Playground project eyes 'wave' of volunteerism

Volunteers work on Friday unwrapping and preparing to install playground fixtures. A sign saying James T. Culverhouse Memorial Playground will be installed below Three Ponds Park. (Lebanon Voice/Harrison Thorp photo)

MILTON - With a giant pirate ship and special nautical knot swing, Milton's new playground at the Town Beach will have a maritime feel, so the theme for today is "All hands on deck" said Milton Rec Department chief Karen Brown.

Brown said she's hoping for a sea of volunteers to descend on Town Beach for the continuing community build of the James T. Culverhouse Memorial Playground.

"We need 60, but the more the merrier," she said while working at the playground on Friday where volunteers were out in force digging post holes for the pirate ship and putting up various playground fixtures. The project will continue through Sunday if not completed today.

Culverhouse, for whom the playground is named, died in 2008 and was a well-loved community member of Milton since moving here in 1985 with his wife Esther and their three sons, Jason, Matthew and Joshua.

He touched the community in many ways with his volunteerism and his service to his community. Culverhouse served over 20 years as a member of the Milton Parks and Recreation Commission, and over 15 years as a member of the Milton Winter Carnival Committee, for many years as the chairman.

He also served more than nine years as a Milton Selectman, including several years as the board chairman. His real passion was the children of Milton. Whether it was baseball or playgrounds or kindergarten, he had a hand in all of it to make Milton a great place to raise a family and to make sure that other families felt the same way.

To volunteer contact Karen Brown at recreation@miltonnh-us.com, or just show up at the Town Beach later today.