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Phase Two of the construction project for the new playground at Aquatic Park gets under way Wednesday morning, and organizers are reissuing their call for volunteers. 

By Sunday evening, if enough people show up to help, a new playground structure, based on the designs of Berkeley elementary school students, will be finished along the eastern side of the park. The wooden creation will emphasize the ecological emphasis of Aquatic Park and will include an ecology walk and animal designs. 

In fact, it’s the unique design of the playground that has necessitated an extended construction project. The local organizers are working in conjunction with Leathers and Associates, an Ithaca, N.Y.-based architectural group that designs community playgrounds around the world. A typical Leathers project lasts a week, but the architects felt more time was needed because of the detailed work for the Berkeley playground. 

The first week of activity ran from May 18-21, and this week’s efforts begin at 8 a.m. Wednesday and continue through the end of the day Sunday. 

The name of the playground – Dream Land for Kids – was chosen earlier this month by 9-year-old Joseph Newell. The work site is located just south of the foot of Bancroft Way. 

Three volunteer shifts are available each day: from 8 a.m. to noon, from 12:30 to 5 p.m., and from 5:30 to 9 p.m. Lunch and dinner are served to volunteers each day. 

Organizers are asking volunteers who have work tools to bring them to the site. All loaned tools will be engraved with the person’s name and returned in “as is” condition. Tools damaged at the site will be replaced. 

Work gloves, hammer, tape measures, drill, circular saws, index cards and pencils are particularly needed. 

Here are other, more specific tools that are being sought: a backhoe; 6 screw guns; 4 orbital jigsaws; 2 bolt cutters; 17 brooms; 13 paint brushes; 38 scrub brushes; 10 bar clamps 2’ and over; 35 drills 3/8”; 40 25’ extension cords; 2 fire extinguishers; work gloves, as many as possible; 25 hammers; 12 hardhats; 2 garden hoses; 20 levels, all sizes; 7 rakes, bow tine (metal); rope, 1/2” and 3/8” 200’ each; 10 belt sanders; 4 disk sanders; 20 Skil saws; 15 long handled shovels; 30 kitchen sponges; 50 nail aprons; 20 combination squares; 4 8-10’ stepladders; 5 wheelbarrows; open end wrench set; and 4 ratchet sets. 

For more information on any aspect of the playground project, call 510-649-9874.