The Presque Isle Kiwanis Club, Presque Isle Rotary Club, United Way of Aroostook and the City of Presque Isle have officially launched a campaign to bring inclusive and safe play to the Riverside Park area.
The park’s original playground equipment, installed 40 years ago, became unsafe and had to be removed. For this reason, these area service organizations and the city are looking to the community for support.
Representatives from each organization comprise the Riverside Park Playground Steering Committee. After reviewing several playground designs, committee members have chosen four, with price ranges starting at $100,000 to the ultimate goal for the project of $250,000. The larger the design, the more opportunities for inclusive play will be provided for children. The designs include the first-ever handicap-accessible play structures in the Star City.
To help achieve its top goal, the committee seeks a “Hero,” which is the top designation of the finalized giving levels. There will be only one hero of the park, and that person or company will receive the opportunity to name the park after their donation of $50,000 or more.
According to Kim Smith, Presque Isle grant writer and public information officer, this hero will also be identified in all playground project promotion, as well as park and donor signage.
The next level is “Champion,” and committee members hope to identify five donors at this level, between $10,000 and $49,999. Those donors will be recognized on the donor sign at the entrance to the park.
Ten donors may be “Crusaders” for donating between $5,000 and $9,999. Next, 20 donors of between $2,500 and $4,999 will be called “Guardians,” and those who donate between $1,000 and $2,499 will be “Defenders.” Crusaders, Guardians and Defenders will all be recognized on the donor sign at the park as well. Those interested in a general donation of less than $1,000 will be named friends of the park.
City Manager Martin Puckett said interested donors may contact any city civic organization or send donations directly to the city (made payable to Presque Isle Community Development Association) to the attention of the Playground Project.
Besides the giving levels, a number of fundraisers are planned to help playground organizers realize their goal. Kiwanis, The Aroostook Medical Center and the Presque Isle Recreation and Parks Department will sponsor a Monster Mash Family Halloween Costume Dance at the Presque Isle Community Center on Friday, Oct. 27, with all proceeds going to the Community Park Project.
“This is the second fundraising event Kiwanis has been involved with that will benefit the park directly,” said Carla Cambridge, Kiwanis Club president. “We have enjoyed the collaboration among other organizations to make the park a reality. We will continue our fundraising efforts to further support the park.”
Additionally, Smith has researched a number of external funding opportunities and identified nine foundation sources thus far. Proposals have already been submitted to several of these funders to add to the money raised locally for the project. Answers should be received by spring.
The Presque Isle Rotary Club’s annual auction will culminate the fundraising for the park. The auction will take place Saturday, Dec. 16. In lieu of a “Special Project”, the club has designated the playground as its “Community Project.” A portion of their auction general proceeds will be designated to the park.
“This being our 70th annual auction, we wanted to do something a little different to celebrate,” said Mandy Pooler-Hall, Rotary president. “In 2014, the Presque Isle Rotary had the opportunity to partner with the city to assist in fundraising for the Community Center. Building this playground will be the final puzzle piece in revitalizing that area and we are happy to be a part of that effort.”
Following the auction, the partner organizations will determine which design will best fit the money raised. Construction on the park will begin in 2018.
“This is a project that none of us could do alone, but when we unite, this project is possible, said Sherry Locke, United Way executive director. “We are working together to build a stronger community.”
