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News & Events
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Play Area Springs Into Action Posted in the Piedmonter a Publication of the Contra Costa Times on Friday, April 02, 2004 Written by Cindee de la Vara, Staff Writer Oakland ~ When Rotarians see something that needs to be done in the community, they often spring into action. And that's exactly the case with the Oakland Salvation Army play area in the Fruitvale district, which the Rotary Club of Piedmont Montclair helped dedicate last Friday. Nearly 40 friends of the Salvation Army and the Piedmont Montclair and Oakland Sunrise Rotary clubs gathered March 26 to acknowledge the work the groups had done to bring playtime to youngsters at the Garden Street facility in Oakland. "In the past, we've had a plastic play structure for 50 kids," said Maj. George Rocheleau, Alameda Country coordinator for the Salvation Army. "It receives thousands of uses in a month. I was welcomed to town, when I took this position in July of 2003, with a call from Rotarians saying, 'We have your playground ready.' " Piedmont Montclair Rotarian Al Summerfield visited the Fruitvale-area Salvation Army three years ago. After seeing the dirt field and small play structure, Summerfield approached his club about raising funds for the project -- which was completed July 26, 2003. "It's a wonderful addition for the families that stay here," said Rotarian and real estate broker Marlene Daniels Bottano," and, to the neighborhood." Piedmont Montclair Rotarian Mark Delventhal, who also heads the Piedmont Recreation Department, did a lot of the planning and helped to get organizers in touch with the right people, said Rotarian Char Raimondi of San Leandro. "This was wonderful thing," said Piedmont Montclair Rotary Club President Walter Nygaard. "Working in fellowship and hand-in-hand with the Salvation Army -- these are the kinds of things we like to do." The play area was prepared, covered with wood chips and made complete with a play structure in just a day, thanks to the labor of Rotarians. Piedmont Montclair Rotary past president Jeff Trowbridge and his children Daniel and Patrice, as well as Boy Scouts from Piedmont Council Troop 15, and other Rotarians worked to install the $15,000 recreation area on a Saturday in July. Children were playing on the playground the next day. "The kids jumped right on it the Sunday after it was finished" said Trowbridge, who as president of the Piedmont Montclair Rotary in 2001, initiated the play area project. The Salvation Army hosts a day-care center for 59 at-risk children and takes care of up to 16 families at a time. "You should see the kids on it," said Rocheleau. "They're playing and screaming on it at incredible decibels." Reach Cindee de la Vara at Contra Costa Times
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Related links: - Contra Costa Times - Piedmonter |
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