Park named Rotary Adventure Playground

The Stanwood-Camano Rotary Club donated $50,000 toward the proposed playground at Freedom Park, earning the title of lead sponsor and nudging the playground to nearly half its fundraising goal of $200,000.

Their donation also earned them recognition in the playground’s name:

Rotary Adventure Playground at Freedom Park will be constructed May 19-23.

iHeartParks, which is in charge of the project, originally held a communitywide contest to procure a name for the playground. The grand prize was supposed to be a pizza party.

Unfortunately, despite voting several times, no clear name emerged from the entries.

Instead, the project committee crafted a name they feel supports the spirit of the playground while recognizing a major community contributor.

And, the naming entries are not for wont: each child who entered the contest gets to name a picket in the fence that will surround the playground. The remaining pickets will be used for additional fundraising.

For $35, community members can name a picket, too, and support the playground.

Playground equipment may also be underwritten, earning the charitable party a spot on the piece they sponsored.

Straight-up donations and good ol’ fashioned elbow grease are also in high demand.

Just over $100,000 still need to be raised, and volunteers’ time and talents will be welcomed in the spring, when the playground is slated to be built.

The playground was designed by Leathers and Associates, who gathered ideas from local children. When finished, it will boast separate play areas for younger and older kids.

It will bear the marks – pickets, names and sweat – of the community that made it happen.

To purchase a picket, underwrite a piece of playground equipment, donate funds or gather additional information, visit www.iheartparks.org or dial 360-722-7811.

Staff Reporter Jeremiah O’Hagan: 629-8066 ext. 125 or ohagan@scnews. com.