Williamsfield group to officially open new playground

By STACY MILLBERG - Staff Writer - smillberg@starbeacon.com
Star Beacon

May 22, 2008 10:36 pm

— WILLIAMSFIELD TOWNSHIP — After a lot of hard work and fundraising, the Williamsfield Community Center Play Safe Committee has reached its goal and constructed a new playground at the community center.
The group will celebrate its accomplishment and officially open the playground Saturday with a ribbon cutting ceremony at 10 a.m., with a meet and greet at 9:30 a.m.
The committee of 10 community volunteers, under the Williamsfield Trustees, formed in January 2007. Since then, the committee has raised and acquired through fundraisers, monetary donations and grants, at total of $85,000, for Phase I of the project, a new playground at the community center.
“We also have in the works a Phase II for a new regulation sized basketball court with adjustable hoops,” said Lori Haffa, secretary/treasurer of the committee.
The group was awarded three grants, a $14, 002 Ohio Natureworks Grant, a $40,000 Community Development Block Grant, and a $25,000 grant from the Ashtabula Foundation.
“We also received several monetary donations from local organizations, businesses and residents,” Haffa said. “There was also an outside donation by the American Legion Post 334 of Painesville.
Volunteers gathered the first weekend in May to construct the new playground, replacing the outdated one that was more than 70 years old.
New American Disabilities Act compliant equipment has been installed, the ground has been surfaced and the group has beautified the surrounding areas to make it a place for children and families of the community to enjoy, she said.
There will also be a Ronald McDonald Magic Show after the ribbon cutting.