At next weeks budget hearing (June 1st, 7:00 PM, City Council chambers), I’ll be asking the City of Raleigh set aside parks and recreation money to help fund the master plan for the future park at Sierra Drive and Lineberry Drive. This is part of a larger list of budget items that we’ve gathered as part of the South West Citizens Advisory Council (SWCAC).
The budget will be tight, but it’s important that we keep asking. As I was reviewing the weekly E-newsletter from the city, I saw an article about the Kaboom! organization helping to fund playground equipment replacement at Southgate Park (see press release below). I then thought to myself, could the Lineberry Alliance apply for a grant for our future park?
KaBOOM! is a national non-profit dedicated to saving play for America’s children.
Our mission is to create great playspaces through the participation and leadership of communities. Ultimately, we envision a place to play within walking distance of every child in America.
Their mission fits perfectly for what we are trying to accomplish. A park that we can walk to. A park that we don’t have to cross a busy Lake Wheeler Road to get to. A park that will be the center of our collective neighborhoods.
I’m still looking into what’s needed for a grant, but it’s got to be a huge step in the right direction if we can find grants or other money to help pay for the park planning and equipment. Any type of grant or money that we can come up with looks better to the city then zero.
See the press release below about Southgate Park and if anyone is familiar with Kaboom! or any other grants, please contact me.
COUNCIL AUTHORIZES GRANT APPLICATION FROM KABOOM FOR SOUTHGATE NEIGHBORHOOD PARK
The Raleigh City Council has authorized the application with Kaboom! for replacement of the playground equipment at the Southgate Park.
The City has previously received grants from Kaboom! for improvements to the playgrounds at Lane Street mini-park, Green Road Community Center and the Apollo Heights/Ralph Campbell Center Park. The existing playground equipment at the Southgate Neighborhood park is approximately 25 years old. Renovations are currently underway at the Sgt. Courtney T. Johnson Community Center at Southgate Park. A new playground at the park will significantly enhance the summer camp and promote community involvement within the neighborhood. The South Citizens Advisory Committee will serve as a supporting partner for the project.
Kaboom! grants are typically valued at $30,000 and require City of Raleigh matching funds of $7,500 towards the cost of the playground equipment. Dozens of volunteers provide the labor to build the playground. The funding partner is Foresters Insurance Company which the City worked with on the Kaboom! project at Green Road Community Center last August.
KaBOOM! is a national nonprofit organization that envisions a great place to play within walking distance of every child in America. Celebrating 14 years of service in 2010, KaBOOM! has used its innovative community-building model to bring together business and community interests to construct new playgrounds, skateparks, sports fields and ice rinks across North America.
Tags: budget, CAC, community, grant, kaboom, park, southgate park