Civic League seeks support for park

Saturday, January 19, 2008

Cloverdale Civic League President Lisa Halloran presented her organization's plan for The Clover Patch playground Tuesday evening in a public meeting at Cloverdale Elementary school.

The project which was given an initial go-ahead in October of 2006, is currently budgeted at $67,000. The Civic League has already procured $12,000 for the playground, thanks to grants of $5,000 each from the Putnam County Foundation and KABOOM (The National Playground Association). Halloran opened the presentation with a chronological power-point presentation, which chronicled the build-out of a similar structure for the Boy's and Girl's Club of Lake County, Ill.

She then detailed the combined community effort that would be required to bring the Cloverdale facility to life on her planned build day of June 6, 2008. The initial phase of the project would include playground equipment geared for children ages 5-12.

Equipment for toddlers would be constructed at a later date, provided funds were available. Halloran stressed that a community-built playground "creates ownership" within the community and offered research to suggest that access to well-designed play facilities decreases childhood obesity and improves the overall social structure of the community involved.

There will be as many as fifteen subcommittees overseeing the actual planning and construction of the Clover Patch facility. Additional funds are being sought through corporate sponsorship, private donation, and other grant possibilities. Those interested in serving should contact Halloran at (765) 795-4027.

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