Playground will be one of three in the state
Contributed by Mike Feazel
Two successful fundraisers over the weekend put the $100,000 fundraising campaign for the All-Inclusive Playground at Lake Monticello over the top, said Lake Monticello Community Foundation President Nancy Parsons. The playground is expected to open by mid-summer.
“When we started this playground project, I thought raising $100,000 for the All-Inclusive Playground was a really big challenge for a brand-new Foundation,” Parsons. “And here we are, just 18 months after this campaign started, with the $100,000 in hand to build the third All-Inclusive Playground in the entire state. How amazing is that?”
Big donations from Mill Creek Orthodontics, Gary Albert State Farm and Avenue Realty gave the campaign a good start, said Foundation board member Alan Stewart, but the whole community contributed. He said the Foundation, in anticipation of possible cost over-runs and for future projects, is still accepting donations.
“We are deeply grateful for the generosity of the hundreds of people in our community who gave donations of $5, $25 or $100, bought items at Foundation yard sales, supported charity tea parties, the Talent Show and Festival of Trees, participated in raffles, or just plain donated,” Parsons said. “This was truly a community-wide effort.”
The Lake Monticello Community Foundation is just getting started, said Secretary Maureen Smith: “After we catch our breath, we’ll be asking the community for ideas about what else we can do to make life better for Lake Monticello and Fluvanna County. We can’t wait to get started on our next project. We are definitely ‘Better. Together.’”
The successful weekend fundraisers were the conclusion of the Great Sunshine Getaway Raffle with the prize drawing Friday night at Cunningham Creek Winery, and a hugely successful tea party Saturday hosted by Lakers Brenda Alluisi and Carol Sorber.
Site preparation work has been completed for the playground at Lake Monticello’s Lafayette Park, and the main pieces of equipment delivered. The playground is awaiting equipment installation by the contractor, to be followed quickly by installation of the new, safe surface and fencing.
For more information about getting involved with the Foundation, call 434-591-5169 or email LakeCommunityFoundation@gmail.com or visit lakemonticellocommunityfoundation.org.
