More than 500 volunteers from The Home Depot and the local community came together on Saturday, April 22, to build a new playground at War Memorial Park in Pass Christian, MS.  The project was the fourth by KaBOOM! in the Gulf Coast as part of Operation Playground, the organization's two-year initiative to build 100 playgrounds in areas affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, and the second in the Gulf Coast by KaBOOM! and founding partner The Home Depot.

Hurricane Katrina destroyed more than half of Pass Christian, including the playground at War Memorial Park.  The new playground, overlooking the Gulf and within walking distance from most of town, provides residents with a community gathering place where parents can let their children play free of the danger of debris from the storm-battered landscape.

During the morning kick off ceremony, planning committee co-chair Liz Hanson reminded volunteers that this playground would be the first permanent structure back in Pass Christian after Hurricane Katrina.  The Home Depot Chairman, President and CEO Bob Nardelli thanked the volunteers for spending the day doing something that would leave a lasting legacy in the town that has been through so much.  He was followed by Chief Administrative Officer and 50-year Pass Christian resident Malcolm Jones, who put the day in perspective when he told volunteers, "We're not just building a playground today.  We're rebuilding our dreams."

The day passed quickly as volunteers worked together to construct not just the 6,600 sq. ft. playground, toddler play area and Dino Dig, but also benches, picnic tables, and trash cans.  Volunteers also completed a number of landscaping projects, inlcuding planing 35 trees and more than 400 plants and flowers, thanks to an additional $10,000 from The Home Depot.

There was also plenty for children to do on Build Day while the park was being transformed.  Children's activities included birdhouse construction, making thank you cards for volunteers, and working on very special mosaic stepping stones that utilized pottery and debris provided by residents.

In record time, the day concluded at 2:00 with a memorable board cutting ceremony attended by Pass Christian Chief Administrative Officer Malcolm Jones, Nardelli, members of the Pass Christian City Council, Don Powell, coordinator of the federal Gulf Coast rebuilding effort, and Senator Harris Wofford.

During the ceremony, Kevin Martinez and Kelly Caffarelli of The Home Depot Foundation announced that the Foundation was also awarding $50,000 to the schools for a new fieldhouse and field, and $100,000 to the city for housing.

Finally, KaBOOM! CEO and Co-Founder Darell Hammond announced that The Home Depot and Playworld Systems were going to partner with KaBOOM! to build ten playgrounds in the five days leading up to the anniversary of Hurricane Katrina in August.  He also reminded volunteers the impact they were having on the children in Pass Christian: "Today you've helped turn the dreams of Pass Christian into reality.  We didn't just build a playground today.  We helped restore childhoods." 

Following the board-cutting ceremony, volunteers relaxed after their hard day at a community celebration thrown by The Home Depot.  It was a fitting end to a day of fun and community spirit!
  

Bob Nardelli will discuss the Pass Christian project and the importance of corporate volunteerism on CNBC's On the Money program, Tuesday, April 25 at 7:00 PM ET.  Don't miss it!

See coverage of the project on WLOX.

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