York City Parks and Recreation Department employees Ed Freeland, left, and Jody Trimmer affix a walkway barrier while installing a playground structure at Penn Park. (Bill Kalina photo)

Relaxing on her porch Friday, Jacqueline Orr couldn't help but notice the flurry of green shirts across the street.

Curiosity got the best of the York City woman, who walked over to see what was happening in the park where three generations of her family have played. Soon, she was wearing a green shirt and carrying a shovel.

Orr, who's lived in her Lafayette Street home for most of the past 40 years, was one of about 50 volunteers who kicked off Bring On Play's latest project - a complete makeover of Penn Park's playgrounds.

"I'm glad that I got a chance to participate," Orr, 48, said. "The kids will love it."

BOP is a group of community activists turned playground artists who aim to renovate one city park every year.

Between Friday and Monday, the group plans to finish constructing a playground designed to encourage creativity and imaginative play in 2- to 5-year-olds. On the ground will be a colorful, rubbery surface that "allows the rain to soak through, and it's very safe," said Cori Strathmeyer, wellness director at the YMCA.

The bulk of the project will be built in the spring, including another playground designed for older kids that Strathmeyer predicts will drive kids "crazy" with excitement.

"It's just very cool stuff," she said. "Lots of high climbing."

When it's all done, the playground will also include two types of water features and a "history fence."

Originally designated a park by William Penn, the site hosted Revolutionary War camps and a Civil War hospital, and was a drop-off point for freed slaves after the war.

Biggest project yet: The $680,000 project at Penn Park is BOP's fourth. The group formed a few years ago and has since renovated playgrounds at Lincoln, Allen and Westminster parks.

Penn Park is getting the most expensive makeover by far. Earlier renovations cost about $430,000.

"This is bigger than those three together," Strathmeyer said.

BOP needs to raise about $150,000 more to pay for Penn Park's new playgrounds, she said. The money is coming from private donations and grants - including about $350,000 from the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, which also sent 15 staff members to help with Friday's build.

"This is a way to be directly connected to one of our projects," said Lauren Imgrund, the department's director of recreation and conservation.

Building a playground is no easy task, said Steve Hemler, a sales consultant with General Recreation. Representatives of the Harrisburg-based company prepared Penn Park for its new playground and guided volunteers on Friday.

Hemler said he participates in a few community builds each year, and they always require a "good game plan," he said.

Friday's crew of volunteers was top notch, he added.

"We're very blessed to have such good people - people who know how to build things," Hemler said. "These guys have given themselves 110 percent."

- Erin James may also be reached at ejames@yorkdispatch.com.