Volunteers are needed to help install playground equipment at the new Salmon Bay School playground during a three-day period from Oct. 12 to 14.

A professional play structure installation company will send workers to the site to guide volunteers. Twenty people a day will be needed, preferably for the full six-hour workday because assembly of the play equipment requires a "learning curve."

"We're excited to improve the appearance of that part of the school yard and to give kids more to do," said Sam Star, project coordinator.

New picnic tables, soil and planter boxes will be put in during the same days. The old basketball backboards will be removed and new ones put in. Wood fibre will be installed underneath the play structures.

School children told project organizers they wanted a place where they could eat their lunch, along with landscaping, trees and plants. Retaining walls low enough to sit on are part of the design. Salmon Bay School has more than 600 students in kindergarten-through-8th-grade.

Primary funding comes from a Seattle's Department of Neighborhoods $100,000 matching fund grant. The Seattle School District provided $30,000 for the project.

When the project began a year and a half ago, about 115 members of the community pledged volunteer time, totaling 1,250 hours.

Since the playground project was conceived, many families have moved on with their children graduating to high school. New families have arrived at Salmon Bay, mostly in kindergarten or 6th-grade.

New volunteers are now needed and volunteer hours go towards meeting the matching grant.

Neighbors are also welcome to help out.

"The playground is open to the public," said Star. "It takes a lot of volunteer hours. We're looking for help from anyone who would like to pitch in."

The old play structure will be retained since it is still good for the younger children.

The new playground feature is a European design from a company called Kompan.

"It's unique and more challenging for older kids," said Star.

The new playground will be open for use by the community.

"It will be something for the whole family," said Star. "You can ride bikes on the new smooth asphalt surface."

The playground installation days are: Friday, Oct. 12, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.; Saturday, Oct. 13, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.; and Sunday, Oct. 14, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Volunteers can contact Sam Star at samstar500@yahoo.com or call 789-3483.