Rotary to renovate playground in city
The Rotary Club of Butler is gearing up to begin renovating the Institute Hill playground in the city.
The Rotary is leading efforts to give the playground a complete overhaul. That will include: the construction of a pavilion with picnic tables and benches, new fencing, playground equipment, handicap parking and a sidewalk made up of inscribed bricks.
The Rotary hopes residents will make donations of $75 that will give the contributor 3 lines to inscribe a memory on a brick, helping to fund the work.
“We're hoping the people who live in the community will give back to a city project that needs help,” said Dale Pinkerton, a Butler County Commissioner and president of the club.
Pinkerton said Rotary members will go door-to-door in the neighborhood beginning Sept. 14 to talk to residents about the bricks with hopes of gaining support.
Pinkerton said the money for the bricks will not be needed at the time of the visit, but rather residents will be able to mail checks made out to the Butler Rotary Foundation.
Pinkerton said the Rotary Club already has collected about $90,000 for the project. Two golf outings raised about $20,000 total, Pinkerton said. Another $70,000 was raised through donations from companies and individuals.
Dennis Baglier, a club member and an organizer of the project, said the fundraising efforts fall in line with the club's goals in the community.
“It's what the Rotary does,” Baglier said. “We find a need and put the effort forth to solve the problem.”
While the club has been able to get donations for many of the materials and work for the playground, Pinkerton said there will still be a heavy cost.
“It's going to be well over $100,000 by the time we're done,” Pinkerton said.
He said the Rotary hopes it can sell 750 to 1,000 memorial bricks.
“That'll get us to where we need to be,” he said, adding any extra money raised will go back to the city parks department.
Baglier said the bricks are a nice way for residents to be a part of the playground for years to come.
“I think for people who used it when they were younger, it's a great idea,” he said.
Pinkerton said anyone interested in helping go door-to-door to promote the brick sales should contact Jim Ferguson at 724-282-8675.
He also said the Rotary is looking for volunteers to help with the construction. Anyone interested in lending a hand also can call Ferguson.
Baglier said demolition at the site has already occurred. He said construction is expected to begin later this month and be finished by the end of October.
Mayor Tom Donaldson said the city is thankful for the work the club is doing.
He noted the city is not in a position financially to renovate the playground itself.
“It's very nice,” the mayor said. “We can't thank the Rotary enough for the things they do in the city.”
