Kidzville deconstruction salvages materials

ZANESVILLE, Ohio- The deconstruction is officially underway for Kidzville and the material is not all going to waste.

During the deconstruction rather than disposing of the material that is salvageable, nearly two-thirds of the park will be donated to Habitat for Humanity’s ReStore. Which will then be sold to raise funds to be put back into the community.

Director of ReStore Operations, Molly Blair, said they are salvaging anything that is salvageable.

“The fact that it’s actually being sold is benefitting the community through Habitat for Humanity,” said Blair.

The ReStore, located in Sunrise Center, is a donation center that is open to the public. They take new and gently used building materials and resell them at discounted prices. These sales generate funds that go back into the community.

“We’re going to be building houses, we’ll be improving the housing stock in neighborhoods here in Muskingum County, we’ll be adding to the tax base in Muskingum County,” said Blair. “There [are] just so many benefits of how the ReStore benefits Habitat, which benefits our community.”

However, once the deconstruction is completed the team will be in need of volunteers for the rebuilding process. A total of 180 volunteers a day during the last week of May.

Lisa Hittle, Public Relations Coordinator for Kidzville, said the rebuilding of the park will benefit generations to come.

“It’s a huge project for the community,” said Hittle. “We’re doing it for the kids, we want a safe place for the kids to play.”

Hittle said the old structure was riddled with safety issues which is what prompted the project.

To volunteer you can contact Pam Edwards at the Mayor’s Office at (740) 455-0641.