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Community groups team up for playground

West Shore Parks and Recreation has officially launched its fundraising campaign for the future Rotary Picnic accessible playground.
62791goldstreamRotaryPlayground2PSept1611
Colwood Rotary president Russ Lazaruk is happy the Colwood Rotary has partnered with West Shore Parks and Recreation to build an new accessible playground.

Rec centre seeks Facebook votes for $100K grant

West Shore Parks and Recreation has officially launched its fundraising campaign for the future Rotary Picnic accessible playground.

Sited for land near the Colwood Rotary picnic shelter and the Paul Valentine memorial basketball courts, the playground will include swings and play structures for children with a spectrum of mobility challenges.

Even before the campaign started, the recreation centre had mustered up $88,000 toward the $244,000 project.

The Colwood Rotary donated $9,500 at the campaign launch, but Rotary president Russ Lazaruk said the group will work hard to raise more than that. This year Rotary is focusing on children and people with disabilities.

“Every year the club takes on a local project,” Lazaruk said. “This is an inclusive playground.”

Colwood Mayor Dave Saunders also pledged a $5,000 donation from the Saunders Family Foundation.

“(West Shore recreation) supports youth and seniors in such a huge region, more so than a single municipality,” Saunders said. “There is a need for this type of facility.”

The rec centre has been selected as a finalist in the Schneiders Country Naturals Picnic Anywhere Project contest. The grand prize is $100,000.

Playground projects in Mackenzie, B.C., one in Alberta and two in Ontario are also vying for the grant.

To win the grant for the playground, the rec centre needs residents to vote for its video on its Facebook page. Rec centre staff member Emily Rogers shot the video, which highlights the playground project

“Anyone can vote once every 24 hours,” said Bobbi Neal, the rec centre’s community development co-ordinator.

People are also encouraged to donate to the project using PayPal through the West Shore recreation website. People can also sponsor pieces of equipment or purchase personalized legacy bricks for the playground.

To vote for West Shore recreation’s video on Facebook see www.facebook.com/westshorerecreation or its website www.westshorerecreation.ca.

reporter@goldstreamgazette.com