The playpark has launched!
- Matthew Lennox
- Jul 13, 2010
- Series: Solid Ground Campus news
The Playpark at Solid Ground Church has finally been completed (well, 99% complete at least). All that needs to be done now, is to have the shade netting above the playpark installed! A number of children have already 'tested' the equipment out, and judging by the fact that there was not a single child running about in the Cafe Lounge on Sunday after the service, it is safe to assume that the park is a major hit!
Isn't it amazing that children instinctively know how to play? While I was observing some children playing on the equipment, I realised that the playpark itself is somewhat secondary to the endless possibilities of their imaginations. The playpark is the vehicle for their minds to go wandering to distant galaxies and lands of adventurous activities and endless possibilities. It goes without saying, that gross motor movements in playing as well as the cognitive development that takes place whilst using the imagination is vital in the development of children. Solid Ground Church is thrilled to be able to provide a safe, healthy and fun environment to watch our children play and develop.
What was once the unused volleyball court was gradually excavated and adapted to house the playpark equipment. Gerhard de Beer took care of all the choosing and purchasing of the equipment via the internet and email. The playpark then had to be shipped in from
China - and special thanks to Bob Johnson from Spy Imports for helping to facilitate this daunting process. Once the playpark had arrived, we had to design and develop the area which included a beautifully made steel fence, as well as the metal structure that would support the shade netting. Thanks to Greg MacMurray and his team from G.M Processing for the excellent quality and service.
There were also the fathers (and fathers to be) who willingly gave of their spare time to come and help assemble the modules that once connected together, would form the finished playpark. Once those had been assembled, it was a case of positioning the playpark and filling the sandpit with the river sand that would form the surface on which the children would play. We realise that this may cause parents a few hassles in terms of more sand in the car on the way home after the celebration service on Sundays, but I am sure that it won't be long until parents realise that their children need to shaken down, pockets emptied, and socks shaken out after a bout of serious play.
So what is our vision for the play park? Well, I think an analogy that very tidily sums up what the playpark is meant for, and why we chose to construct this facility, was a word that Grant Crawford from NCF in Pietermaritzburg brough quite a while ago. He read us the passage of scripture where Elisha instructed the poor widow to 'bring more jars' in order that they could miraculously filled with oil. The more jars that the woman brough, the more the oil flowed. So Grant Crawford's word to us was to 'put out more jars'. In a sense, the playpark is just one of those jars that we as a church have placed into the community, in order to welcome more people to Solid Ground Church. You may be puzzled by this, thinking perhaps that the playpark is essentially for children. To answer that, it is for the children, but also for their dads and moms who will be bringing them to play on the playpark. 
While the children are having a ball on the equipment, parents can feel free to have a good coffee in the Cafe Lounge, browse the bookshop filled with great literature and life changing teachings. For those parents who have never known about Solid Ground Church, this could be the introduction to a community of people who love Jesus Christ and have a heart to see the city of Middelburg find their way back to God. The possibilities are endless!
Logistically speaking, we strongly discourage the playpark merely as venue for 'child-minding' or for parents to drop their children off while they go about their daily business. It needs to be clearly understood that the playpark is not an aftercare facility. Therefore, children have to be accompanied by adults should they wish to make use of the facilities. There will also be a suitable, well-stocked first aid kit on location at the park, should anything befall a child whilst playing on the equipment.
Solid Ground Church is very happy to have added this component to our ministry to the city of Middelburg. We look forward to developing stronger relationships with the parents and children who are not yet involved in Solid Ground Church. For those of you who are already involved in the life of Solid Ground Church, we invite you to invite your friends to come and be a part of the Solid Ground Church.
