Vikings Go To Work For Child's Play

Nearly the entire Vikings team is expected to be assembled today at a Minneapolis school to build a playground that some of the kids designed. It has become an annual event for the Vikings.

For those who think that the Vikings aren’t a community resource should take some time today to attend the Seed Academy/Harvest Prep School in Minneapolis today. More than 250 volunteers, including 150 Vikings players, coaches and executives will combine forces for the one-day construction of a new playground at the school.

The Vikings have been regular participants in the program, organized by KaBOOM! – a non-profit organization that has as its goal a place to play within walking distance of every child in America. The cost of the playground is being split by the Toro Corporation and the Vikings.

The Seed Academy/Harvest Prep School was selected earlier this year and the playground design is based on drawings that were done by students who attended the Design Day in March to come up with the framework by which the playground would be constructed.

The playground program combines the efforts and expertise of people in many areas to construct the playground in a single day – beginning at 8:30 a.m. and finishing at 2:30 p.m., rain or shine. The Vikings cheerleaders and front office staff will be on hand from the beginning of the process. The Vikings players and coaching staff will arrive at 12:45 p.m. today and be deployed to classrooms and assist with the playground assembly and painting a mural at the playground. A ribbon-cutting ceremony is set for 2 p.m. at the school.


WEDNESDAY NOTES

Vikings running back Chester Taylor reported to the team’s practice facility Tuesday. Taylor, who spends the typical offseason in his own workout program, is expected to take part fully in the team’s minicamp this weekend.

The first preseason projections are out and Lindy’s, one of the longest-running NFL preview publications, is picking the Vikings to win the NFC North.

Erasmus James has been spotted working out with trainers for the Redskins during Washington’s OTA sessions. James, who has not been made available to the media during the session, continues to rehab his surgically repaired knee.

Packers running back Noah Herron broke up a home intrusion by burglars using a bedpost to fight off the crooks. Considering that Redskins’ safety Sean Taylor was killed by home intruders last year, things could have been considerably worse for Herron.