May 28, 2004

Contact: Carolyn Dungan
546-8774
or
Jane Frech
787-2538

WASHINGTON PARK PLAYGROUND GROUNDBREAKING SET FOR JUNE 2

Springfield, IL…The Springfield Parks Foundation announces the official groundbreaking ceremony for the renovation of Springfield’s historic Washington Park Playground will be held Wednesday, June 2 at 11 a.m. at the current playground site. Kent Massie, playground designer, will conduct a walking tour of the planned park changes at 10:30 a.m. Graphics of the updates will also be on display.

The playground renovation is a community effort to refurbish and expand one of our city’s treasures. The new park will include special educational learning areas, a natural terraced amphitheater, water play area and children’s garden. Activity zones will be grouped for appropriate age play including a special toddler play area. It will encompass nearly two acres including the current playground area and features a turn-of-the-century prairie style design with stone and iron fencing, period lighting, strolling bridge and drinking fountain gazebo.

Volunteers have raised over $160,000 of the needed $400,000 to make the renovations. The Springfield Park District is committed to providing additional in-kind labor and maintenance. The park renovations will be ongoing with a planned completion date in the spring of 2005.

“We feel very positive about the strong community support we have received for the renovation even before the first brick has been laid. This is a project that benefits the entire City of Springfield as thousands of children from across the city come to play at Washington Park,” said Carolyn Dungan, volunteer chairperson for the project.

The Playground Committee recently kicked off a memorial brick sale to the public. A memorial brick walkway and entrance will be an integral part of the new playground. Bricks are available in two sizes: 4” x 8” for $100 and 8” x 8” for $250. Order forms will be available at the groundbreaking ceremony.

The Springfield Parks Foundation is a not-for-profit fund raising organization dedicated to enhancing the use, growth and preservation of the city’s community parks.

# # #