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> Home > Government > News & Public Notices > 2010 News Stories > City of Auburn to host dedication celebration for the new accessible Discovery Playground
City of Auburn to host dedication celebration for the new accessible Discovery PlaygroundCeremony set for Friday, June 25 at 10 a.m. at Les Gove Park Contact: AUBURN, Wash. - June 22, 2010 - A large-scale community fundraising effort of $300,000 will culminate on opening of the new, 32,000 sq. ft. Discovery Playground at Les Gove Park on Friday, June 25 at 10 a.m. Auburn's newest and most unique playgrounds will open in conjunction with the annual KidsDay festival. Discovery Playground is one of the region's largest accessible playgrounds. The new playground will replace a former play structure, originally installed in the 1960s that was not universally accessible. The "Imagine Play for All" community fundraising team was formed in 2009 with a goal to raise $300,000 for the project. The City worked with a non-profit 501(c) (3) community partner, the Northwest Parks Foundation, to accept tax-deductible donations to the project from corporations, businesses, foundations, or individuals A community design team of agency professionals, occupational therapy professionals and a youth representative helped to design the playground with the physical, sensory and developmental abilities of all children in mind – children of all abilities can learn together through play and develop essential life skills. The park broke ground for construction in April 2010. The community surpassed the initial fundraising goal and over $309,000 has been raised in support of the project. Donations have been received by individuals, corporations, businesses, granting agencies, foundations, and service clubs. Several service providers donated in-kind services related to the playground construction. The City of Auburn was awarded $70,000 from a King County Youth Sports Facility grant, the Rotary Club of Auburn and the Employee Recycling Program have both donated $10,000, a $5,000 Muckleshoot Charity Grant was received, and both Trillium Employment Services and Waste Management each donated $5,000, City of Auburn Employees donated $3,169, the Auburn Youth Council donated $2,600, the Auburn Noon Lions Club and Multicare each donated $2,500, and the Soroptimist International of Auburn gave $1,600 to the project. Additionally, individual donations total $5,155, area businesses have donated $1,037.50, students from the Auburn School District donated $1,289.47, and other service agency donations total almost $2,000. In-kind donations of material and professional services total over $86,000 with a donation of most of the large playground boulders being donated by Master’s Stoneworks Artist Andre Pomeroy and all of the fencing donated by Quality Fence Builders, Inc. “The City of Auburn has a fantastic park and recreation system with a variety of play equipment, spray pools, fields, and courts. The new Discovery Playground is a family gathering place that will bring joy to children of all ages. The amazing support and community involvement in this project is proof once again that Auburn is a city with incredible heart,” notes Lynn Norman, City of Auburn Councilmember and barrier-free task-force member. ABOUT DISCOVERY PLAYGROUND The tactile surfaces and sensory garden adds to this unique playground and includes an integrated system of spaces devoted to the five senses: see, hear, touch, taste and smell. The rocks at the highest level near the hill slides represent Mt. Rainier and two textured walking paths characterize the White and Green Rivers. In addition to the play equipment, users of the playground will be able to discover at least 12 different types of rock, 45 fish imprints in the White River and Green River, 3 musical instruments, countless hours of fun and an endless number of new friends. For additional details about the project, please call the City of Auburn Parks, Arts & Recreation Department at 253-931-3043. # # # Auburn Parks, Arts & Recreation |
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