April 9, 2014 - As the Fort Kid playground near World's Fair Park celebrates its 23rd birthday this month, its advocates today announced a renovation - and more.

Beth Waters, Fort Kid Committee Chair and a driving force behind the playground's April 1991 construction, announced today that her committee will be funding a two-phase renovation. The Fort Kid Committee invested $10,000 when the playground was completed, and that fund has grown to $65,000.


Photographed making today's announcement are (from left) Christi Branscom, Deputy to the Mayor and Chief Operating Officer; Alexander Waters, Beth Waters' son and one of the first children to play at Fort Kid when it opened; and Beth Waters.

The first phase - to be completed by June - will include replacing fencing, adding landscaping, repairing, pressure-washing and staining wooden structures, and adding a new layer of pea gravel. The second phase focuses on community involvement and a new volunteer committee, The Kids of Fort Kid, made up of the youngsters who broke in the new playground in 1991 and are now adults.

Volunteers on Sept. 20 will be at Fort Kid, planting, painting and putting the final touches on the renovated playground. A follow-up project is planned for April 2015.

Alexander Waters will serve as renovation coordinator for The Kids of Fort Kid.