The Salmon Bay School Playground Committee is hosting a work party this Saturday with a goal to paint the periphery lines before the fall rains come.

The Salmon Bay School Playground Committee and the Friends of Salmon Bay were recently awarded $100,000 for renovating the Salmon Bay School playground into an autism spectrum disorder-friendly playspace which also serves the needs of younger children, enhance the site so that it is a neighborhood asset, and educate the public about the importance of early intervention for children with ASD.

Leader Robin Lofstrom informs us that the committee is currently in the process of putting the equipment out for an RFI (request for information) from playground equipment manufacturers, and working with the landscape architect to develop the design and create construction documents. They're also working towards conducting outreach this fall and planning more fundraising efforts. The goal is to open the playground in the fall of 2012.

Lofstrom said that at this time, there are no plans underway to do Phase 2, which would include moving the dumpsters, and installing play equipment of some type where those dumpsters are now. Phase 3 would include opening up the fence, installing new concrete steps/stadium seating, and envisioning and creating a water-specific feature.

Next month, the Salmon Bay Playground Committee is hosting the Let's Play Salmon Bay festival, a day dedicated to play, inclusion, and fun.

"This isn't a fundraising event; it's a fun-raising event," Lofstrom said in an email. It's "a time to talk about the project, learn some more about ASD, and just have some plain ol' fun, like face-painting, card tricks, games, a potluck, cake walk, labyrinth to walk, and more."

The Let's Play Salmon Bay festival will take place at Salmon Bay School from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. on Saturday, October 22.

The work party will be this Saturday from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. at the Salmon Bay School, 1810 Northwest 65th Street.