Playground aims for fitness

Volunteers braved the blustery day Thursday to help build a playground for the children at Girls Inc.

More than 200 volunteers from Home Depot, KaBoom, Girls Inc. and other community groups joined in the service project as they tightened bolts, painted fences and helped develop a mural geared toward young girls.

“I’m for anything that supports [girls] to be strong, smart and bold,” said Pam Policano, paint brush in hand. Policano serves on Girls Inc.’s board of directors.

The construction was done in a day with Home Depot’s help. The store, with nonprofit group KaBoom, has helped build 1,000 playgrounds, ice rinks and sports fields in three years and chose Costa Mesa’s Girls Inc. as one to help.

Girls Inc. had to pony up $10,000 for the project, while Home Depot covered the other $47,200 and provided more than 150 volunteers for construction. The project was a team effort.

Girls Inc. had to submit a proposal to be a part of the program, outlining its needs and reasons why the organization deserves assistance.

“We did not have a playground,” said Lucy Santana-Ornelas, executive director at Girls Inc. “We had a small fort,” which was about 20 years old, Santana-Ornelas said.

After they were picked, Home Deport and KaBoom worked with Girls Inc. to develop a design. Girls at the organization, parents and community members submitted drawings and input.

A big red slide was the main feature for the children, but an interesting addition was the inclusion of a 3- to 7-foot rock-climbing wall.

Santana-Ornelas said the idea fits into the organization’s vision of fitness goals for the girls. Girls Inc. stresses alternative activities such as rock climbing in addition to more traditional exercises.

Since Home Depot was there, the store’s representatives added a few extra fixin’s. A mural depicts professional women to inspire the youths and benches were added, said Kim Sentovich, a vice president at the company.

Girls Inc. hopes the playground, while providing outdoor fun and fitness, can also attract higher attendance for the group, which sees about 100 girls come through the program in a year.

The organization will have an open house March 13 to show off the new activity center as well as a number of other new items at Girls Inc.

Go to www.girlsinc-oc.org for more information.

DANIEL TEDFORD may be reached at (714) 966-4632 or at daniel.tedford@latimes.com.