NEW PARK AMENITIES IN THE CITY

The Kiwanis Club of Fredericksburg commemorated their 100-year anniversary by doing what they do best, serving the Fredericksburg community.

Culminating two years of planning, designing and fundraising, the Kiwanis Club partnered with Fredericksburg Parks, Recreation and Events staff in April to install five new accessible playground pieces in Memorial Park. Rob Dodd, President of the Kiwanis Club stated “it was important to the club that what we did would have some level of impact that would accommodate all kids.”

The new equipment includes three pieces that are accessible from the memorial brick walkway to individuals who have mobility challenges, and another piece where children and their parents can face each other while swinging together. Dodd credits the Kiwanis Foundation, the Community Foundation Duff McDuff Green, Jr. Fund, the Capital District Kiwanis Foundation, Steve Flanagan, and the generosity of Cunningham Recreation, for the project being able to reach their financial goal of purchasing all of the equipment. “We are not able to realize the entire dream without them.” Another large savings came from the Kiwanis members themselves, who provided much of the labor to assemble and install the five pieces. Assembly and installation can add nearly half of the equipment cost to a playground project. A dozen Kiwanis members, along with over 50 Key Club high school members that are sponsored by the Kiwanis Club, worked under the supervision of Stephanie Snellings, who is a Certified Playground Safety Inspector for the City, and Joseph Cox, who is a sales representative for Cunningham Recreation, CPSI, and Kiwanis Club member, to complete the project. A Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for the new equipment was held at Memorial Park in May. The ceremony included 100 anniversary cupcakes that were distributed to the children in the park.

Memorial Recreation Park (also known as Kenmore Park) is located on the corner of Kenmore Avenue and Mary Ball Street at 1401 Kenmore Avenue. The new playground equipment can be accessed by the brick walk from Mary Ball Street.

The Kiwanis project is just one of many examples where Fredericksburg Parks, Recreation and Events has partnered with generous and civic minded organizations to provide new parks, facilities and opportunities to the citizens of the area. Past projects have included partnering with: n Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation to construct the Sunshine Ballpark n W.C. Spratt, Inc. to construct Powhatan Park n University of Mary Washington to construct a community garden at Snowden Park n Manarc Borne the Battle to install outdoor fitness equipment along the Heritage Trail n Sunshine Lady Foundation to allow City residents free admission to Doris E. Buffett Pool n Many Eagle Scout candidates to fulfill their project obligations

Individuals, businesses or organizations who are interested in partnering with Fredericksburg Parks, Recreation and Events are encouraged to contact the Department at (540) 372-1086. n