I hope you’re voting in your city elections today.

But there’s another vote taking place that matters to our community too.

The park, in better days. (Photo | City of Chesapeake)

Let me give you the back-story first (as borrowed from an email forwarded to me by the Norfolk Noblemen): On April 1, 2010, someone set fire to the Fun Forest playground at Chesapeake City Park, leaving in its place only charred ruins. The following week was spring break for area children, with Fun Forest being a likely destination for the younger ones. What greeted them as they entered the park was crime scene tape surrounding a beloved playground. The park was conceived by the Chesapeake Division of the Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce in 1994, and built by nearly 2,000 volunteers from all over the city and beyond. At the time, it was called the largest handicapped-accessible park on the East Coast.

The park, in worse times. (Photo | Sears)

The playground was submitted to the “More Green Across America” contest (sponsored by Sears) and was selected from hundreds of applicants as one of the 10 playgrounds eligible to win the $30,000 makeover. Through May 5^th the public is able to vote for the playground they feel best deserves the makeover.

Right now Fun Forest has 60, 663 votes. Second place is nearly 40,000 behind with 21, 826. You know what that tells me? We care. We want the best for ourselves and our children. We are willing to actually do something–even if only voting online–to build a better Hampton Roads.

I say we all vote today and tomorrow, make sure that it is our park, in our community, that receives the blessing of the makeover.

Here’s where you vote. There’s a Facebook group dedicated to rebuilding the park. Click here to join the cause.

Isn’t it cool when you can better your community by pushing a button?