Central Oregonian

Granted shade

The Kiwanis Club of Prineville was recently awarded a donation by St. Charles Health System for a canopy covering over the kids’ play area at Pioneer Park

RAMONA MCCALLISTER/CENTRAL OREGONIAN

The kids’ play area at Pioneer Park includes a graceful arch at the entryway that proudly displays the Kiwanis Club name, who provided the funds for the park three years ago. The new canopy will provide shade for the youngsters in the summer.

Ramona McCallister

January 03, 2013

The kids’ play area at Pioneer Park will sport a canopy over the fenced-in section of the space this summer.

“We have been working on this for three years, since we have built the park,” said Kiwanis Club of Prineville President Chet Petersen.

He added that the Kiwanis Club built and financed the play area at Pioneer Park approximately three years ago, with a regal arch that bears their name at the entrance. The only problem was that the artificial turf used as a surface drew an unexpected amount of heat in the summer

“We recognized after it was up, that in the summertime, it is just too hot,” explained Petersen. “We needed to protect it so the little ones could play.”

Crook County Parks and Recreation Director Maureen Crawford said that they would be installing the new canopy, since Pioneer Park is part of the CCPRD park system.

She noted that the turf in the kids’ park is the first application in which they have used the turf.

“It’s really, really hot,” commented Crawford. “When the sun beats down on it in the summertime, it gets extremely hot. I didn’t know that, because we had never used it before.”

She added that they also have some other components in the play stations that get very hot, as well. The canopy consists of two sails supported by five posts. Cables suspend the sails, and it can be taken down in the winter.

“I think it will be really nice — it will be a great addition,” Crawford said. “We’re tickled.”

Petersen indicated that past president Wayne Looney, current secretary Linda Smith, and members Mary Thurman and Jim Minturn put a great deal of time writing grants and letters in an attempt to elicit funds for the park cover.

After unsuccessfully recruiting funds for a grant, St. Charles Health System became aware of the need via CEO for Redmond and Prineville Bob Gomes — who is also a Kiwanis member. He said that he proposed the project, and it tied in with St. Charles Health System’s “Protect” campaign — designed to promote awareness of harmful UV rays.

St. Charles Health System donated a gift of $20,355 to provide the needed canopy for the park.

“We are really trying to talk to people about sun protection, and I thought this fell right in line with this,” explained Gomes of the project. “Kiwanis wanted to do this (cover project for park) for a while.”

Petersen said that Gomes surprised the local Kiwanis group immediately after Christmas with a check for the project from St. Charles Health System.

“I can’t wait to see it happen,” Gomes exclaimed.