The Livingston Rotary Club is requesting funds to purchase ADA accessible picnic tables, an ADA accessible swing, and a new outdoor water fountain for Mike Webb (G Street Park). Our club has made many improvements to this park over the years, with the two biggest features being completed in 2015 (Water Spray Park) and 2018 (picnic shelter). At a meeting with Parks Superintendent Eric Schneider and Public Works Director Shannon Holmes earlier this year, we were made aware that the potential closing of the City's public pool due to deteriorating conditions and operational expenses will significantly increase G Street park usage this summer.
The park has seen heavy use in the last four years due to 1-it being a free, public park accessible to everyone, and 2-its proximity to a summer camp program held in a nearby elementary school. In addition to the daily use by families of all ages and the "Links for Learning" summer camp kids, the park has been the meeting place for Park High School class reunions, birthday parties, and other events. While the City of Livingston has made improvements to G Street Park, such as planting trees and upgrading playground equipment, there is a gap in providing recreational options for our residents with disabilities. The funds we are requesting from the District will help our club purchase a water fountain, four all-weather ADA accessible picnic tables and an ADA compliant swing set to accommodate greater use of the Water Spray Park and G St Park by all residents, age zero to 100. Livingston Rotary is specifically looking at equipment that has high durability and lifespan, so that the investments we make to improve Mike Webb/G St Park will be enjoyed for many years to come.
Our volunteer work will primarily involve getting sponsors for equipment purchase through club fundraising efforts, like our Annual Art on the Fly event held each July. Club members also work directly with the City to identify and approve the equipment for purchase. Livingston Rotary will handle payments to equipment providers and coordinate with the City on delivery and installation dates. Because this project involves City property, we are limited with the hands-on volunteering time due to volunteer liability issues. However, we fully intend to continue pressing the City for opportunities to help, such as moving equipment from storage to installation site, digging holes for anchoring equipment, and any other tasks assigned to us by City Park's foreman Eric Schneider.
Our goal is to purchase and install the water fountain, picnic tables and swing this summer, 2019, in light of the increased usage we expect as a result of our City pool's situation. We appreciate the District considering our grant request to make our City Parks accessible and enjoyable for everyone in our community.
Addendum to Project Description (added after the project was signed)
Livingston Rotary club will put plaques on each picnic table donated and also the water fountain that is being built. We, already have signage on the picnic shelter and water park marking the involvement of rotary on the fundraising and gifting to the community of those projects.
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