Bring on Play's mission is to renovate one playground per year in the City of York with the community’s support to design, fundraise and build. Established in 2008, BOP has successfully renovated city parks, hosted innumerable play events and created a spirit of fun for children and adults alike. This organization is currently designing the second phase playground renovation to Veterans Memorial Park. Their goal is to include walking paths, benches, garden areas and adult exercise equipment in addition to the children's play equipment. Email bop@yorkcity.org if you have a great idea or would like to get involved!
1. Where did you grow up and where do you live now?
My hometown is York and I still live here.
2. What has been your biggest success with Bring on Play?
I love that York has a heightened awareness to the healthy benefits of play due to the efforts of Bring on Play and our partner organizations. We've renovated seven playgrounds in seven years, which is awesome, but we're also creating opportunities to bring “Play Everywhere” with painted sidewalk activities and creative bus shelters. Our next playground should include intergenerational components to encourage entire families to gather at the playground. Our playgrounds are community centers for the neighborhoods.
3. What’s the biggest challenge Bring on Play faces?
Sustainability. It's challenging to keep the momentum as an all-volunteer organization; everyone is also busy with their families and careers. We need some new members with fresh ideas and renewed energy!
4. What was your favorite toy at the park as a child?
Swings. I loved to swing as high as I could and then jump off! We didn't have any fall protection back then, just dirt and grass.
5. What’s on the top of your bucket list for 2016?
Traveling. Our kids are old enough (10 and 12) to really start to see the world and to appreciate how amazing it is.
6. Best advice ever given to you:
My high school trig/calculus teacher always taught us “don't take shortcuts.” He wouldn’t let the students use cheat sheets or charts until we learned how to solve problems the long way. I work as an electrical engineer, so it's obviously been helpful to my career, but I think it’s always important to thoroughly analyze issues rather than jumping to a quick conclusion.
7. What is something people may not know about you?
The most difficult decision that I make every single day is to get out of bed. I’m inherently a night owl and love to sleep in.
8. Where do you like to relax at home?
On the couch with my dog (Ollie the Golden Retriever)
9. What’s your most treasured possession and why?
The china dishes that my 91-year-old grandmother painted for me a few years ago. They’re beautiful and she’s exceptionally talented, but I love that her special gift will be remembered and cherished by my children and grandchildren and hopefully many more generations.
10. If you could have any super power, what would it be?
I'd love to be able to talk to animals!
11. What’s your guilty pleasure?
Candy
12. Favorite flower:
Lily
13. Best book you ever read:
Too many to pick just one
14. Favorite movie of all time:
My Cousin Vinny
15. Where do you go for a favorite meal?
Anywhere in downtown York. Blue Moon is my favorite.
