Hundreds of volunteers work on new Alton Park playground

A long-decaying playground took on new life and possibilities Tuesday when nearly 300 volunteers gathered at Piney Woods Elementary School on a $180,000 project to erect new playground equipment, resurface a basketball court and more.

It was the 11th such playground to benefit from a KaBoom BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee Health Foundation grant.

BlueCross BlueShield donated about $85,000 each for previous playground projects. But for the playground across the street from the Emma Wheeler Homes public housing site, community support was so great the company doubled its usual contribution. Later Wednesday night, BlueCross Blue Shield tacked on an additional $10,000.

“They believed in us,” said Dr. Elenora Woods, a local dentist and executive director of the Alton Park Development Corporation.

Volunteers included a host of former Alton Park residents or people who once had relatives living in the area.