Road Home fence offers protected sanctuary for disadvantaged kids


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SALT LAKE CITY — A new wall surrounding the children's area of downtown Salt Lake City's Road Home is allowing kids to stay protected in what can be a difficult environment.

The Road Home, a shelter located in central downtown Salt Lake City, is often associated with a downtrodden area. It's no secret what happens in these places sometimes — drugs, crime and dishonesty are common.

"You can't come down to this place with your eyes open and not have your heart broken in some way by looking around," said Chris Peterson, a volunteer.

Until recently, roughly 100 children who call the location their home were virtually next to much of this illicit activity. A playground area with activity space for kids is located outside the facility, and with nothing between this and the streets, the people the Road Home tries to protect most were being exposed to a world they could do without.

"Seeing little kids suffer is extremely painful," said Peterson.

After just a single day of volunteering, Peterson went to work trying to fix things. Months of planning, including funding from the city and a number of volunteers, eventually yielded a new gift for these kids — a fence to keep their sanctuary a bit more peaceful.

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Spanning 450 linear feet and surrounding the playground area at the Road Home, the fence has changed the way things feel in the area. Several volunteers covered much of the barrier with colorful art, giving the entire thing an open and pleasant ambiance.

"It's a completely different space now than it was then," said Peterson. "A little more safe, and a little more vibrant."

Many of these kids still have a long path in front of them in life. At least now, though, one piece of the innocence of their childhood can remain.

Contributing: Ben Dowsett

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