The Rotary club of Fairbanks requests $16,000 to assist in funding a project sponsored by the Rotary Club of Fairbanks ("the Club") and the Club's Donor Advised Fund (DAF): Pathway Playground within the Tanana Lakes Park, owned and maintained by the Fairbanks North Star Borough. Please see the enclosed brochure for a more complete description of the project and finances.
Because of the pandemic, many of the fund-raising activities of the Club cannot be pursued. The DAF plans to contribute $32,000 this year to this joint Club-DAF project, and the Club plans to donate $18,000. But we need an additional $92,000 to complete the project. Thus, we are seeking grants from other sources to complete this project by the end of 2022, if at all possible.
Already, the Club has developed the pathway and one pod of playground equipment at the end of the isthmus. The Borough built the parking area. Three units of equipment currently are stored in Fairbanks, to be installed this summer. We hope to raise the funds necessary to install the equipment and to purchase and ship additional equipment and materials to build pavilions, benches, and install the remaining planned units of playground equipment.
The Pathway Playground enhances the outdoor activities available for children and families at Tanana Lakes Park, at the south end of Cushman Street in south Fairbanks. The park is used by diverse groups for picnics, meetings, and parties. Every member of the community is welcome to enjoy it, free of charge. There is a swimming area and beach near Pathway Playground. In summer, the Tanana Lakes Park hosts people who swim, sunbathe, kayak, canoe, picnic, jog, walk, bird-watch, paint and conduct outdoor meetings. In winter, people ski, snowmachine, and walk in the area.
Beginning in 2016, the Club has expended $137,894.64, and obtained donated design services of $22,386.42 from Design Alaska, Inc. The Club has also received donated construction services from Trost Construction, GHEMM Company, Inc., and Weber, Inc. totaling $45,650.
For 2021, the club has paid for and shipped the three playground pods to Fairbanks, at a cost of $45,872.14. President-elect Tom Gross is storing the equipment (free of charge) until it can be installed. Club member Mike Schmetzer of Design Alaska, Inc. continues to donate design and organizational services for the project. To complete installation of the three pods of playground equipment, plus the benches, treehouse, pavilions and tot playground, additional funds are needed, as follows:
Installation of 3 units of playground equipment $24,700
4 benches @ $2000 each $ 8,000
Treehouse structure $35,000
2 Pavilions @ $20,000 each $40,000
2 tot playground units @ $17,500 each $35,000
Total needed to complete the playground $142,700
We project that we will raise $50,000 from the Club and DAF in 2021.
Thus, we are seeking $92,500 to complete the playground project. Of the $16,000 we request from District 5010; the amount will be used to purchase a safe and fun Playground unit. We will continue our fund raising efforts until completion of the entire project.
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