Salisbury in Wicomico County, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

The Ben's Red Swings Community Playground Story

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), October 12, 2024

1. The Ben's Red Swings Community Playground Story Marker

Inscription.

The Ben's Red Swings Community Playground Story. . , During the week of May 11 through 16, 2004, more than 4,000 local volunteers gathered at the west entrance to the Salisbury Zoo to build the Ben's Red Swings Community Playground. This new community playground was designed through the imaginative input of local children. Funded by the generosity of hundreds of local businesses and individuals, and built entirely by volunteers during six beautiful days in May 2004. Inspired by the memory of 4 year old Ben Layton who died of leukemia in 2002. A committee of 18 dedicated individuals joined together in August 2003 to begin planning this project., After 9 months and countless hours of planning, coupled with the support and assistance of hundreds of community members, construction of Ben's Red Swings Community Playground officially began on Tuesday, May 11, 2004. Construction was coordinated under the watchful eye and assistance of 12 volunteer construction captains, each of whom dedicated their entire week to the project working at least 14 hours every day from 7 AM until 9 PM for six straight days., During the week of the build, more than 4,000 local volunteers lent a hand with construction, volunteer registration, food service, child care and general assistance to make the cream of Ben's red swings come true. The Ben's Red Swings Committee wishes to thank and recognize the thousands of local volunteers for your assistance and the hundreds of local businesses and individuals for their financial contributions and donations of goods and service which brought the Ben's Red Swings Community Playground to life. This project was a true testament to the spirit and generosity of our wonderful community here on the Eastern Shore. Looking back, during those six wonderful days in May, we not only built a great playground for generations of children to enjoy, we also built a stronger community with a renewed sense of pride in what we can accomplish by working together. Thanks to each and every one of you for making the dream of Ben's red sings come true.

During the week of May 11 through 16, 2004, more than 4,000 local volunteers gathered at the west entrance to the Salisbury Zoo to build the Ben's Red Swings Community Playground. This new community playground was designed through the imaginative input of local children. Funded by the generosity of hundreds of local businesses and individuals, and built entirely by volunteers during six beautiful days in May 2004. Inspired by the memory of 4 year old Ben Layton who died of leukemia in 2002. A committee of 18 dedicated individuals joined together in August 2003 to begin planning this project.

After 9 months and countless hours of planning, coupled with the support and assistance of hundreds of community members, construction of Ben's Red Swings Community Playground officially began on Tuesday, May 11, 2004. Construction was coordinated under the watchful eye and assistance of 12 volunteer construction captains, each of whom dedicated their entire week to the project working at least 14 hours every day from 7 AM until 9 PM for six straight days.

During the week of the build, more than 4,000 local volunteers lent a hand with construction, volunteer registration, food service, child care and general assistance to make the cream of Ben's red swings come true. The Ben's Red Swings Committee wishes to thank and recognize

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the thousands of local volunteers for your assistance and the hundreds of local businesses and individuals for their financial contributions and donations of goods and service which brought the Ben's Red Swings Community Playground to life. This project was a true testament to the spirit and generosity of our wonderful community here on the Eastern Shore. Looking back, during those six wonderful days in May, we not only built a great playground for generations of children to enjoy, we also built a stronger community with a renewed sense of pride in what we can accomplish by working together. Thanks to each and every one of you for making the dream of Ben's red sings come true.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Charity & Public Work • Parks & Recreational Areas. A significant historical date for this entry is May 11, 2004.

Location. 38° 21.709′ N, 75° 35.053′ W. Marker is in Salisbury, Maryland, in Wicomico County. It is on Beaver Dam Drive north of South Park Drive, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 220 Beaver Dam Dr, Salisbury MD 21804, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is on the Eastern Shore.

It is also in the American Mid-Atlantic,

on the Delmarva Peninsula,

and in the Tidewater.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once one of the original Thirteen Colonies

and also the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: About Ben Layton (here, next to this marker); Ben's Red Swings (within shouting distance of this marker); American Bison (about 500 feet away, measured in a

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), October 12, 2024

2. The Ben's Red Swings Community Playground Story Marker

direct line); Beaver (about 800 feet away); American Alligator (approx. 0.2 miles away); The Evolution of the "Best Little Zoo in North America" (approx. 0.2 miles away); Wicomico Treasures (approx. 0.2 miles away); POW★MIA (approx. 0.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Salisbury.

Credits. This page was last revised on October 12, 2024. It was originally submitted on October 12, 2024, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 123 times since then and 38 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on October 12, 2024, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.