GLENDALE

Arizona Coyotes and volunteers give Glendale park a new look

Paige Shacklett
The Republic | azcentral.com
Arizona Coyotes head coach Dave Tippett, Antoine Vermette and Shane Doan (right) helped to build a seesaw and new playground at Bonsall Park North on Monday, December 8, 2014 in Glendale.

The Arizona Coyotes' players moved their skills from the rink to the playground on Monday to help turn a dilapidated Glendale park into something where parents might want to let their children play.

Arizona Coyotes forward David Moss joined his teammates and coaches alongside volunteers from the city of Glendale at Bonsall Park North near 59th Avenue and Bethany Home Road to replace broken and outdated equipment, giving the park a much-needed face-lift.

"I think a lot of times during the course of the season, you get caught up with hockey and being at the rink, so to do something like this and give back to the community that we play is a great thing not only for our team, but for our organization," Moss said Monday after leaving an imprint of his hand on a park mural.

The renovation came after months of planning between Glendale officials and non-profit KaBOOM!, which works to improve playgrounds nationwide.

Misty Drake, a local parent, said she stopped bringing her young children to the park because the equipment was either broken or covered in graffiti.

"I know that Glendale had been wanting to fix the park but were having some trouble with it, so thanks to the Coyotes and wanting to participate in this, we're able to actually get it done," Drake said.

Courtny Dolan, associate project manager with KaBOOM!, said more than 1,000 children will benefit from the new-and-improved park.

Dolan said a project's usual budget will range from $80,000 to $100,000, and in this case, the Arizona Coyotes donated 90 percent, while Glendale donated the rest.

Erik Strunk, Glendale's director of community services, said the park's transformation took seven to eight months of planning.

Bonsall Park North was scheduled to be fully assembled and ready for play by the end of Monday afternoon.