We’ve said it before. And now, because it’s the beginning of the Month of Gratitude, we’ll say it again; we are so grateful to be living in a community that cares!
Because of your involvement and generous donations to the Chehalis Foundation we have raised $1.5 million to support the renovations to Rec Park Ballfields complex and the new Penny Playground.
Over the past several years we have led the successful fundraising efforts for parts of Recreation Park, such as the Rhodes Spray Park and the creation of world-class Gail and Carolyn Shaw Aquatic Center. That facility now hosts over 40,000 swimmers each year from the entire region and beyond. The project was such a success that we are again partnering with the city to bring the rest of the park up to this standard.
To begin the current campaign, we kicked off with fundraising for the new Penny Playground. The construction is now underway, and it will become a destination playground because it will be the largest inclusive and ADA accessible playground within a 70-mile radius.
Currently underway is a complete overhaul of the drainage systems and all-weather playing surfaces for the four ball fields. Our community will soon have state-of-the-art playing fields for our high school softball program which has consistently experienced success at the District and State levels for the past several years. Renovated ball fields means that our community will once again host weekend softball and Little League tournaments throughout the Spring and early Summer.
We expect 100,000 annual visitors to Rec Park each year. Many will be drawn by tournaments on the renovated ball fields, while 40,000+ visitors will come for the Shaw Aquatic Center. And with Penny Playground becoming the most significant ADA playground in the region, the Rec Park renovations will result in additional tourism revenue of nearly $1 million per year.
THANKS TO THE SUPPORT OF OUR GENEROUS COMMUNITY
We are excited to see these upgrades compliment other first-class renovations already completed in the park. They will yield significant benefits for our community for decades to come.
You Can Help Build Penny Playground By Purchasing Fence Pennies!
There is still time to purchase your Fence Pennies or buy one as a Holiday Gift for that special “person who has everything”! What a great way to honor your loved ones. Fence Pennies will be made of 2.5″ copper colored metal coins. They will be suspended from the Penny Playground chain link fence. They are personalized with a message of your choice; your name, a loved one’s name, and/or message. Learn more or Order here.
BECOME A PENNY PLAYGROUND SPONSOR
To inquire about available opportunities to become a major sponsor of Recreation Park or Penny Playground please contact us here, or directly at:
Connie Bode
Chehalis Foundation
[email protected]
360-388-0876
Thank you very much for your support. We hope you will share our excitement and help us with FUNdraising to help Chehalis create one of the best community parks in Western Washington. Together we are creating THE FUTURE OF FUN for so many kids.
