Arleta volunteers work hard to create playground

Wow, in the midst of a crashing economy, where even places such as McDonald's is raising their prices (combo meals now being roughly $6.00), it's good to hear that there is still some good going on in the neighborhood. I'm not too sure how many are familiar with a city called Arleta, locaed about 15 minutes away from me in the San Fernando Valley, but it's not the best of neightborhoods. As a matter of fact, I was not even permitted to go on the busy to go see my  best friend Christian who lives there (close to the 405S freeway). For those that are not familiar, Arleta is a neighboring city of Van Nuys, the city that appears to be famous for this summer's many bank robberies, and is just not the greatest neighborhood.

On Saturday, however, there was a change of pace. Residents of Arleta decided to build a playground by an Artleta preschool; something that is desperately needed. There are so many good qualities to this. I mean, really, it's really hard to see a downside to a PLAYGROUND, right (other than the money it took to build it, of course). More than 300 (!) volunteers showed up and built the playground that turned out to be 3,300 square feet!!! Kids are gonna have fun here! And better yet, it'll keep them off the streets!

A 12-year old even remarked that it was a safe place for kids to play without parents having to worry; a MAJOR improvement considering the reputation its neighborhing city has!  Dany Maynard, pasot of Liberty Temple commented "We plan to run after-school programs and keep these kids off the street, and that's what our community needs right now."

Way to go, KaBOOM! :-)