Volunteers, hundreds of them, are being sought to build the new playground at the North Drive Recreational Complex.

Leadership Hopkinsville-Christian County has taken on the project and area school children have helped design it.

Donations also are being sought. The group has raised $55,000 toward its goal of $125,000- $130,000, said Wende Aldridge, one of the project’s coordinators. That goal was reduced from $175,000 because the cost of materials has been lower than anticipated.

The leadership group is seeking help from civic clubs, churches, businesses or any other group in providing volunteers. The group that supplies the most volunteers will receive a brick with its name on it at the playground.

Organizers envision a massive turnout of volunteers for the week of April 30 through May 4. About 300 have already signed up, said Nikki Radford, a member of the group’s volunteer committee. But the group needs “several hundred” more, she said.

The workers will build the playground in three shifts. Child care and food will be provided, Radford said.

“It’s really quite exciting,” she said. She cited a similar effort in Clarksville, Tenn., which drew more volunteers than were needed.

“We want to match that fervor,” Radford said.

The playground will have a variety of features for toddlers and older children. Among them are a castle, a pirate ship, a rock climbing wall and a spiral tube slide.

Murals of three local businesses that raised the most money also will be at the park. The businesses are Heritage Bank, Planters Bank and All-Kleen Services.