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Rotary Club: Susitna Project Title: Rotary Park Playground-Phase I 1. Describe the project. What was done, when and where did project activities take place? April 2025 Susitna Rotary proposed building a new playground adjacent to the existing pavilion previously constructed by the club at Little Susitna Rotary Park. A district grant was submitted to fund Phase I planning, with an estimated cost of $5,000. Landscape architect Nancy Casey-who designed the Fairbanks Rotary Club playground-agreed to provide professional planning services for the project. June 2025 In June, Jack Timm discovered a Facebook Marketplace listing for a used Raindrop Imagination Station playground structure in Anchorage. The equipment was offered as is/where is, with the buyer responsible for removal, for $2,500. The committee agreed that purchasing the structure could allow the club not only to complete planning, but to finish the entire playground this year. Kim Erickson presented the proposal to the City of Houston Parks & Recreation Commission, securing their approval. The City of Houston owns and maintains all improvements made to Little Susitna Rotary Park. After inspecting the equipment and confirming it was in good condition and suitable for refurbishment, Jack Timm recommended purchase. Kim Erickson negotiated the price to $500 with Mountain City Christian Academy. Casey Planning and Design updated their scope to include a site layout and installation instructions for the structure. A team led by Jack Timm disassembled the playground, transported it to his home in the Mat-Su Valley, where Jack spent the next month cleaning and refurbishing all components. July 2025 The committee researched playground surface and border materials. Although Engineered Wood Fiber (EWF) mulch was the initial preference, the final decision was to use pea gravel. An opportunity also arose to partner with the City of Houston to pave the parking area adjacent to the playground and pavilion, improving handicap accessibility, for $5,000. Ground preparation began, including construction of the wooden border and installation of a concrete pad to support the playground structure. August 2025 All site-preparation work was completed, and pea gravel was delivered and staged. On August 9th, Susitna Rotary held a club work party to install the refurbished equipment and spread the pea gravel. The playground was successfully completed that day. A ribbon-cutting ceremony followed, attended by Susitna Rotary members, the Mayor of Houston, two city council members, and local media. 2. How many people benefited from this project? Hundreds of children over time will use the playground 3. Who were the beneficiaries, how were they impacted by this project, and what humanitarian need was met? Residents of the City of Houston with children and families traveling along the Parks Highway with young children. 4. How many Rotarians participated in the project? 20 ~25 5. What did they do? Please give at least two examples, not including financial support provided to the project. 1. Disassembled and transported equipment from Anchorage to MatSu 2. Cleaned and refurbished equipment 3. Ground preparation 4. Poured concrete pad 5. Poured concrete walkway 6. Built border for pea gravel 7. Spread pea gravel 8. Installed equipment in new location 6. If a cooperating organization was involved, what was its role? City of Houston - permission to install equipment then took over as owner of playground and ongoing maintenance. Mountain City Christian Academy - sold equipment to Susitna Rotary at a significantly discounted price ($500 instead of $2500 asking price) Casey Planning and Design - planning and installation done for a discounted fee. 7. Income
8. Expenditures
District must retain receipts of all expenditures for at least five years. Please scan and upload to the project's "Documents" tab all invoices (be sure they are marked "paid"), receipts and/or copies of checks for the full amount of the project budget. By signing this report, I confirm that to the best of my knowledge these District Grant funds were spent only for eligible items in accordance with Trustee-approved guidelines, and that all of the information contained herein is true and accurate. I also understand that all photographs submitted in connection with this report will become the property of RI and will not be returned. I warrant that I own all rights in the photographs, including copyright, and herby grant RI and TRF a royalty free irrevocable license to use the photographs now or at any time in the future, throughout the world in any manner it so chooses and in any medium now known or later developed. This includes the right to modify the photograph(s) as necessary in RI's sole discretion. This also includes, without limitation, use on or in the web site, magazines, brochures, pamphlets, exhibitions and any other promotional materials of RI and TRF.
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