Minamisoma, Japan, Mar 11, 2013 - (JCN Newswire) - The Playground of Hope Project (PoH), the group that installs wooden playgrounds, as a way of re-building communities, announced the installation of its tenth playground today. The playground was donated and installed by volunteer efforts at Takami Park in the town of Minamisoma, Fukushima. Minamisoma is the town closest to the crippled Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant but within the safe zone. This is PoH's first playground to be built in Fukushima Prefecture.

Playground of Hope began installing playgrounds one year after Japan's catastrophic March 11, 2011 earthquake. Three hundred thousand people remain displaced from their homes as a result of the disaster. The nine other playgrounds installed through volunteer efforts are in the cities/towns of Ishinomaki, Kesennuma, Otsuchi, Kamaishi and Yamada.

Said president, Michael Anop, "We are delighted to be installing our tenth play set in Minami Soma. We've been amazed at the outpouring of good will from this venture. The play sets are not just a place for children, but a spot for three generations to gather and envision a brighter future."

He emphasized that community involvement is key to the success of the project. The more the community is involved in building and maintaining the parks, the more they take pride in the space and actively use it.

The Playground of Hope works with local cities and volunteer organizations, such as neighborhood associations and PTAs, to identify areas in most need and find sponsors interested in supporting the project. The playgrounds are installed by volunteers and local community members. Playground of Hope raises funds for the installations from individual and corporate donors and has thus far been able to partially or fully fund all installations.

The play sets, which are unique compared to other Japanese play sets, are wooden and can be installed as long-term or temporary structures. The play sets are built to global safety standards, with a similar set installed by President Obama in the White House.

The Playground of Hope has goals of installing twenty new play sets in 2013. To participate in the Playground of Hope project as a volunteer, donor, or with a suggestion of a worthy location to install a play set, please contact Michael Anop at Michael@playgroundofhope.org. You can also LIKE the Playground of Hope project on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/#!/playgroundofhope .

Depending on eligibility play sets are provided at a deep discount, subsidized deep discount, or fully subsidized basis. Locations have typically been in Northern Japan, but the PoH project is now accepting applications from locations throughout Japan on either public or private land.

About the Playground of Hope

The Playground of Hope Project was founded as a way for Japanese individuals and municipalities to rebuild their communities after the earthquake. We believe play sets are a perfect place for children, parents, and senior citizens to come, play, and envision a brighter future.

The Playground of Hope Project is administered by the event and talent business, Eclipse Production Inc., a Japanese company run by Michael Anop. The Playground of Hope, non-profit is currently operated as a division of Side by Side Inc., one of only 200 recognized tax exempt non-profits in Japan. For more information please contact Michael@playgroundofhope.org. You can also LIKE the Playground of Hope project on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/#!/playgroundofhope .

Contact:
Michael Anop
Director
Playground of Hope
Email: Michael@playgroundofhope.org
Tel: +81-3-3583-0080
Fax: +81-3-3560-5389
Website: www.playgroundofhope.org
Playground of Hope project on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/#!/playgroundofhope

Source: JCN http://www.japancorp.net

Copyright 2013 JCN Newswire. All rights reserved. www.japancorp.net