A 1980s-era playground in a Dedham public housing complex is set to undergo a major upgrade as early as this spring, but not at taxpayer expense.

Instead, the Dedham Youth Commission and Ripples of Hope, a service-oriented nonprofit based in town, joined together last year to try to raise $60,000 for the project. Their goal is to rebuild the deteriorating playground at the heart of the Veterans Road housing complex, home to 78 low-income families.

With the help of a $15,000 grant from KaBOOM!, a national nonprofit that encourages active play for children, and a $10,000 donation from Ripples of Hope, the project is more than two-thirds of the way to its goal.

But most contributions have been under $250, said Marcia Robinson, program director for Ripples of Hope. She said local officials, including state Representative Paul McMurtry and members of the Board of Selectmen and Housing Authority, have lent their support.

The project is being run by an all-volunteer organization called Veterans Road Playground that includes families from the housing complex.

“What’s cool about Dedham is people love to organize,’’ said Youth Commission director Robert Blaney. “People love to plan, and people like to be in some sort of community.’’

Robinson said community members told her during conversations last year that they’d been dreaming of a new park, but didn’t know where to start.

“If we did not lend our voice and support to this,’’ she said, “I don’t think this playground would be built.’’

Blaney said equipment in the playground is broken down, and its surface covered by gravel. The new park, he said, will be built with modern equipment, have a rubber surface, and be handicapped-accessible.

And community involvement won’t stop with the playground, said Robinson. With the new park will come a communal garden, she said, and programming to promote healthy living for children and parents.

“Our mission,’’ she said, “is to connect communities, and build bridges between communities and youth.’’

For more about the Veterans Road Playground community group, visit www.veteransroadplayground.com.

Bret Hauff can be reached at bret.hauff@globe.com. Follow him @b_hauff.