After 18 years of use by families from all over the Chattanooga area and beyond, the Pumpkin Patch Playground on Signal Mountain is in need of repair and updating to meet new safety standards.
The Pumpkin Patch has been a destination playground since it opened in 1997, thanks to its 40-foot slide and 50-foot zip-lines, in addition to the Walnut Street Bridge and Chattanooga Choo Choo replicas, the W Road foot path, as well as the play forts, swing sets and balance structures housed in the three-acre wooded setting.
The community built the Pumpkin Patch Playground nearly 20 years ago. "On a beautiful week in April, the 24th-28th in 1986, people came from far and wide to give their time and energy into making the Pumpkin Patch as we know it now," says Pumpkin Patch Board President Cory Phillips.
Board members include Angie Bandy, Dr.
Melanie Blake, Kate Harwood, Brooke Maedel, Heather Sveadas, Lindsay Wolford, and Dr. Jane Jones, the mother and pediatrician who spearheaded the original Pumpkin Patch project nearly 20 years ago.
Dr. Jane Jones says, "In 1986, hundreds of people and groups came from the greater Chattanooga community each of the five days. Three hot meals were served a day, and work was done from 7:00 a.m. until 10:00 p.m. It went off seamlessly, and almost like magic, the playground rose up."
"It was not only a thing of beauty, but the community spirit that permeated the week was tremendous," says Dr. Jones. "Everyone who participated felt a great attachment to the project, a sense of ownership, and many friendships were made among the workers. It was more fun than anyone could have ever imagined."
Ms. Phillips, a Signal Mountain mother of four energetic boys, is hoping to rally the community again. She's leading the charge to raise the estimated $200,000 needed to repair and update the Pumpkin Patch.
Ms. Phillips says the park’s favorite structures, the huge slide and the zip lines, will remain and be rehabilitated for safety. An exciting new addition will be added if funding allows. “This is such a fabulous place to play. There are things that need to be done, and you hate to see good things deteriorate," says Ms. Phillips.
The board’s vision is for families and community sponsors to help provide money, supplies, and volunteer labor, with only the design work coming from professionals.
“Every large donation that comes from a corporate sponsor or large group takes money off the bottom line, so it would be great to rebuild this park for much less. We just need those donations to roll in so we can start,” says Ms. Phillips.
Tickets are available for a Harvest Supper this Fri. Oct. 23 from 6-9 p.m. to help "Re-Grow the Pumpkin Patch". The Harvest Supper will include farm inspired cuisine, cocktails & fine wines, a live bluegrass band and a silent auction. It will be held at the McCoy Farm located at 1715 Anderson Pike on Signal Mountain. Tickets are $100 per guest and can be purchased at www.pumpkinpatchplayground.org. Sponsors include Erlanger Health System, Chattanooga Allergy Clinic and Adams Lithographing Company.
Another way to help "Re-Grow the Pumpkin Patch" is to purchase a personalized 4-inch-by-8-inch brick or 8-inch-by-8-inch brick to be permanently placed on site. The smaller brick costs $100 and the larger brick costs $200. All donations are tax-deductible.
“Re-Grow the Pumpkin Patch” T-shirts are also available for sale at Signal Mountain Pediatrics.
For more information, email thepumpkinpatchplayground@gmail.com, or send correspondence to Pumpkin Patch Playground, P.O. Box 802, Signal Mountain, TN, 37377.