Update: Sassafras Playground planners push forward

Planners for the remake of the playground at the north Raleigh park not too far from Crabtree Valley Mall are working to raise about $1.5 million toward the ambitious $2 million project. The city of Raleigh has agreed to provide about $500,000 in in-kind services.

Wayne Schindler, Raleigh parks superintendent, tells me that planners are making presentations to local groups across Raleigh to see if they can help. Schindler said they hope that they'll have most of the funding in place by November to move forward. If all goes as planned, that could mean a new playground could open around November 2012 (but a lot will need to happen between now and then).