The City of East Lansing and the Rotary Club of East Lansing plan to build a playground, designed by the community, built by the community and with funds raised by the community. This project, entitled "Playground in the Park Re-Imagined," could bring a new playground to Patriarche Park as early as summer 2013. It is a signature project of the Rotary Club of East Lansing.
It was recently announced that MSU Women’s Basketball Coach Suzy Merchant will serve as the project’s honorary chairperson.
The renovation of the playground at Patriarche Park, originally scheduled for fall 2011, has been re-imagined and will now involve tearing down the existing structure and rebuilding a new playground in its place by as early as summer 2013.
The decision to rebuild came after the discovery that the original playground had been built with CCA-treated wood. While it is believed the playground is safe, the existing structure will be sealed by spring 2012 and a fundraising campaign for the new playground has been launched.
Public Design Meetings
A series of three public design meetings will be hosted over the coming two months for community members who wish to weigh in on the design of the Patriarche Park playground project, “Playground in the Park Re-Imagined.” The meetings will take place on Thursday, Feb. 23 at 7 p.m.; Tuesday, March 6 at 7 p.m.; and Saturday, March 10 at 10 a.m. at the East Lansing Hannah Community Center, 819 Abbot Road. *Children are welcome and encouraged to attend the meeting.
Visit Facebook to view examples of plaground equipment being considered.
Fundraising
The fundraising goal for this project is $400,000. Community members can download the pledge card or contact Rotary Club of East Lansing President and East Lansing Parks, Recreation & Arts (ELPRA) Director Timothy McCaffrey at (517) 319-6867 or ELPRA Assistant Director Wendy Wilmers Longpre at (517) 319-6940.
“Donations of all levels will help us bring this new playground to the park,” said McCaffrey. “From children collecting dimes from their returned cans to playground naming rights for a larger donor, every little bit will help us to reach our goal.”
Volunteer
Community members can also get involved with the project by signing up as a volunteer for next year’s community build. Contact Wendy Wilmers Longpre at (517) 319-6940 or wlongpr@cityofeastlansing.com for more information.
The City of East Lansing and the Rotary Club of East Lansing plan to build a playground, designed by the community, built by the community and with funds raised by the community. This project, entitled "Playground in the Park Re-Imagined," could bring a new playground to Patriarche Park as early as summer 2013. It is a signature project of the Rotary Club of East Lansing.
It was recently announced that MSU Women’s Basketball Coach Suzy Merchant will serve as the project’s honorary chairperson.
The renovation of the playground at Patriarche Park, originally scheduled for fall 2011, has been re-imagined and will now involve tearing down the existing structure and rebuilding a new playground in its place by as early as summer 2013.
The decision to rebuild came after the discovery that the original playground had been built with CCA-treated wood. While it is believed the playground is safe, the existing structure will be sealed by spring 2012 and a fundraising campaign for the new playground has been launched.
Public Design Meetings
A series of three public design meetings will be hosted over the coming two months for community members who wish to weigh in on the design of the Patriarche Park playground project, “Playground in the Park Re-Imagined.” The meetings will take place on Thursday, Feb. 23 at 7 p.m.; Tuesday, March 6 at 7 p.m.; and Saturday, March 10 at 10 a.m. at the East Lansing Hannah Community Center, 819 Abbot Road. *Children are welcome and encouraged to attend the meeting.
Visit Facebook to view examples of plaground equipment being considered.
Fundraising
The fundraising goal for this project is $400,000. Community members can download the pledge card or contact Rotary Club of East Lansing President and East Lansing Parks, Recreation & Arts (ELPRA) Director Timothy McCaffrey at (517) 319-6867 or ELPRA Assistant Director Wendy Wilmers Longpre at (517) 319-6940.
“Donations of all levels will help us bring this new playground to the park,” said McCaffrey. “From children collecting dimes from their returned cans to playground naming rights for a larger donor, every little bit will help us to reach our goal.”
Volunteer
Community members can also get involved with the project by signing up as a volunteer for next year’s community build. Contact Wendy Wilmers Longpre at (517) 319-6940 or wlongpr@cityofeastlansing.com for more information.