By JOYANNA LOVE/ Senior Staff Writer

Community organizations are partnering with the YMCA of Chilton County to fund and build a playground.

Dr Pepper Snapple Group (DPS) and national non-profit KaBOOM! recently awarded a $15,000 grant, and local partners are helping the project reach its ultimate monetary goal.

Lori Patterson of the YMCA said Jimmy Parnell with the Alfa Foundation was donating $7,500 and the Clanton Lions Club donated $3,500 for a fence to enclose the playground.

Shelby Baptist Medical Center donated $5,000  and another $5,000 is coming from the Baptist Health Foundation.

The YMCA is also raising funds through its pageant on Aug. 19.

Patterson said Miss Peach Queen Abbey Porter assisted the YMCA in receiving a donation from the Clanton Lions Club.

Patterson said a community build, in which partners and YMCA members will help construct the playground is in the works. She said this would give Y members a chance to make “a personal investment in creating something new.” The hope is to have this event sometime in October.

“I wanted a playground for our kids, our after-school kids and our kids that stay in childcare,” Patterson said.

The equipment will be geared toward children ages five to 10 with some swings for toddlers. There will also be options to expand in the future.

“It is a large play structure that encourages climbing and pulling your body weight, so that it is play for fitness in mind,” Patterson said. “We do a lot of structured activities, but sometimes with the younger kids, if they can just be active through play, it will accomplish more.”

The playground will be located behind the YMCA building. The structure is being designed by Twin States Recreation and manufactured by Burke.