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Fire destroyed the sprawling playground that thousands of volunteers built three years ago at the site of the old Memorial Stadium on 33rd Street, a blaze that community leaders called "devastating" as they vowed to rebuild.
Residents and children walking from school watched from a hillside while about 35 firefighters doused the flames, which were spotted about 2:20 p.m. as plumes of thick, black smoke rose above the city. Fire officials said the cause was not immediately known, and arson investigators were exploring the possibility that the fire was set.
As the fire continued to smolder, a police officer and a fire investigator at the scene talked to a juvenile who was seated in the back of a squad car with his head in his hands. Donny Moses, a police spokesman, confirmed that the boy was being questioned but said he is not considered a suspect.
The 14,000-square-foot playground was built in 2005 next to the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Family Center at Stadium Place, providing a safe gathering spot for hundreds of children in the heart of the community. With senior homes built nearby, the playground was key part of the area's redevelopment and a place where residents young and old converged.
Money for the $350,000 project was raised through fish fries and spaghetti dinners and by local schoolchildren, and an army of volunteers from across the region chipped in to build the structure.
"It was an honor to be a part of it, and for the first time in a long time it felt like a community. And that's what burned today," said Mary Washington, an Ednor Gardens resident.
Though the playground is owned by the Y of Central Maryland, a community group, Friends of Our Playground, was formed to help with maintenance. President Marisa Canino said the biggest issue previously was that rats last year took to burrowing in the wood mulch used as ground cover.
Reba Bullock, a member of the Ednor Gardens Lakeside community association, shook her head as she watched firefighters spray water on the charred playground.
"This was a community effort - the whole city was behind us," Bullock said. "It saddens my heart to know somebody would do this. It's a sad, sad thing."
"This is devastating to everybody," added Jermaine Johnson of the Greater Homewood Community Corp.
The fire was the second in two days to strike a significant community center in Baltimore. Part of the Edmondson Village Shopping Center was destroyed in a Monday morning blaze.
City Council President Stephanie C. Rawlings-Blake and Councilwoman Mary Pat Clarke visited the Waverly fire site yesterday and said it was essential that the playground be rebuilt. A spokesman for Mayor Sheila Dixon indicated that the city could help as the community looks to raise money again.
"The mayor's office is committed to getting that rebuilt," said Sterling Clifford, a Dixon spokesman.
The group will hold a meeting at 5:30 p.m. today at the YMCA to discuss plans for rebuilding.
The fire continued to smolder about an hour after the flames were first reported, with flames sprouting up occasionally throughout the composite plastic climbing structure of the playground, which was charred and will have to be torn down.
Fire Chief Kevin Cartwright said there were no reports of injuries, and Sara Milstein of the Y of Central Maryland said the family center will remain open.
Gilbert Gardner, 13, Dante Dunston, 12, and Michael Jobs Jr., 13, stopped as they walked home from Barclay Elementary/Middle School to watch firefighters hose down small pockets of flames. The boys said the playground was a free and safe place to play.
"Every day we come up here to play," Gilbert said. "I can't believe what happened to it."
Baltimore Sun reporter Annie Linskey contributed to this article.
Stadium playground contributions
Tax-deductible contributions can be sent to:
Greater Homewood Community Corporation
3501-3 N. Charles St.
Baltimore, MD 21218-2404
Write "Playground" in the memo area
E-mail betsykrieger@gmail.com to volunteer
Residents and children walking from school watched from a hillside while about 35 firefighters doused the flames, which were spotted about 2:20 p.m. as plumes of thick, black smoke rose above the city. Fire officials said the cause was not immediately known, and arson investigators were exploring the possibility that the fire was set.
As the fire continued to smolder, a police officer and a fire investigator at the scene talked to a juvenile who was seated in the back of a squad car with his head in his hands. Donny Moses, a police spokesman, confirmed that the boy was being questioned but said he is not considered a suspect.
The 14,000-square-foot playground was built in 2005 next to the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Family Center at Stadium Place, providing a safe gathering spot for hundreds of children in the heart of the community. With senior homes built nearby, the playground was key part of the area's redevelopment and a place where residents young and old converged.
Money for the $350,000 project was raised through fish fries and spaghetti dinners and by local schoolchildren, and an army of volunteers from across the region chipped in to build the structure.
"It was an honor to be a part of it, and for the first time in a long time it felt like a community. And that's what burned today," said Mary Washington, an Ednor Gardens resident.
Though the playground is owned by the Y of Central Maryland, a community group, Friends of Our Playground, was formed to help with maintenance. President Marisa Canino said the biggest issue previously was that rats last year took to burrowing in the wood mulch used as ground cover.
Reba Bullock, a member of the Ednor Gardens Lakeside community association, shook her head as she watched firefighters spray water on the charred playground.
"This was a community effort - the whole city was behind us," Bullock said. "It saddens my heart to know somebody would do this. It's a sad, sad thing."
"This is devastating to everybody," added Jermaine Johnson of the Greater Homewood Community Corp.
The fire was the second in two days to strike a significant community center in Baltimore. Part of the Edmondson Village Shopping Center was destroyed in a Monday morning blaze.
City Council President Stephanie C. Rawlings-Blake and Councilwoman Mary Pat Clarke visited the Waverly fire site yesterday and said it was essential that the playground be rebuilt. A spokesman for Mayor Sheila Dixon indicated that the city could help as the community looks to raise money again.
"The mayor's office is committed to getting that rebuilt," said Sterling Clifford, a Dixon spokesman.
The group will hold a meeting at 5:30 p.m. today at the YMCA to discuss plans for rebuilding.
The fire continued to smolder about an hour after the flames were first reported, with flames sprouting up occasionally throughout the composite plastic climbing structure of the playground, which was charred and will have to be torn down.
Fire Chief Kevin Cartwright said there were no reports of injuries, and Sara Milstein of the Y of Central Maryland said the family center will remain open.
Gilbert Gardner, 13, Dante Dunston, 12, and Michael Jobs Jr., 13, stopped as they walked home from Barclay Elementary/Middle School to watch firefighters hose down small pockets of flames. The boys said the playground was a free and safe place to play.
"Every day we come up here to play," Gilbert said. "I can't believe what happened to it."
Baltimore Sun reporter Annie Linskey contributed to this article.
Stadium playground contributions
Tax-deductible contributions can be sent to:
Greater Homewood Community Corporation
3501-3 N. Charles St.
Baltimore, MD 21218-2404
Write "Playground" in the memo area
E-mail betsykrieger@gmail.com to volunteer
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