Print this story |
E-mail story |
This story has 4 comments Add your own |
iPod friendly | Bookmark this
What is this?
Church donates to keep playpark
Grace Lutheran gives to Hawthorne
Published Wednesday, July 1, 2009
When the leadership of Grace Lutheran Church found out the city was not going to be able to fund Hawthorne Park this summer as a playpark, the church’s council decided to step forward and donate money.
The church, which is across Garfield Avenue from the park, donated $1,800 to the city Parks and Recreation Department. The money will be used to fund the one park leader who works at the site, along with the other program activities there.
“It was awesome,” said Jennifer Davis, recreation program supervisor. “I didn’t expect it at all. It was very, very generous of them, and they were more than happy to do it.”
The playpark program provides adult supervision and child-oriented activities at selected parks in the Albert Lea parks system.
Though one reason the park was going to be closed was because of budget cuts, another reason was because the park had the least amount of attendance there last year, Davis said.
Sue Barber, a member of the Grace Lutheran Church Council, said many children who come to the church — both members and nonmembers — utilize the playpark activities, and it looked like a good place the church could help out so they could still have activities there.
“Our mission statement for our church is bringing people together and being disciples for Christ,” Barber said. “We’re trying very hard to implement that statement.”
This includes being a good neighbor, she noted.
“Our church, we try to be very community-minded and help out wherever we can,” she said, pointing out the state of the economy.
While the decision was ultimately one of the church’s council, the money came from donations of the congregation’s members, Barber said. The donation was a one-time decision, but she’s sure the council will evaluate it again next year.
The church has asked for volunteers to help at the park and to be there when it is open.
The other Albert Lea playparks are Academy, Hayek, Sondergaard, Southwest, Troy-Hammer, Valley and Lakeview parks.
Playparks are open from 1 to 8 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO SHARE THIS STORY?
Comments
Posted by SRO (anonymous) on July 1, 2009 at 9:35 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Wow, how generous and what a blessing to the kids in the Hawthorne area.
Thank you Grace Lutheran,
from parents of Hawthrone kids.
Posted by almommy (anonymous) on July 1, 2009 at 2:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)
What a great thing! Hawthorne was my favorite park to work at back in the day. Always booming with kids. Thank you Grace Lutheran for helping to save a good thing!
Posted by buke (anonymous) on July 1, 2009 at 2:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)
As a former recreation department employee that ran the playparks for 9 years, it is very hard to believe that Hawthorne Park is now seeing the lowest attendance. This park had the heaviest use during my tenure and require three park leaders. The wiffle ball tournament was always held there each summer. The kids that attended the park were very proud of the three field set up. Many fond memories come from that park.
Thank you Grace Lutheran for helping the kids that do attend Hawthorne park with your generous donation.
Posted by lillyrose (anonymous) on July 1, 2009 at 7:41 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Thank you Grace Lutheran for helping Hawthorne park stay open - my kids love it there just as I did when I was younger!
Post a comment (Terms of Use Policy)
(Requires free registration.)