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Sumpter project revives playground
Neighbors raise money, seek grants for new equipment

By Marlin Brownell
Special to the Statesman Journal

March 14, 2008

Neighborhoods that need to install or replace playground structures in their parks face an expensive task. The Sumpter School Park success-story-in-progress, however, is a pattern for neighborhoods to follow.

In September 2006, the city removed the entire wooden playground structure at Sumpter because of safety issues. This left the park without any play equipment, because the toddlers' play equipment had been removed several years earlier for the same reason.

LeaAnn Holley, who lives immediately adjacent to the park, knew that day would come and had already enlisted the help of her neighbor, Katrina Strand.

"It was an overwhelming project for one person," Holley said, "but with the two of us, I got that boost of energy again and thought 'OK, we can do this.'

"Everyone else thought that the city was going to put something back in there. Katrina and I were about the only people who knew that wasn't the case."

Holley and Strand canvassed every house in the neighborhood with 1,200 flyers, telling neighbors of the need while they asked for funds. The main playground structure will cost $50,000 to replace; the toddlers play area will cost about $50,000 more. Neighbors gave about $4,000.

"We knew we needed to get with somebody who understood the fundraising and the city, so we contacted the Salem Parks Foundation," Holley said. "They have been our lifesource as far as teaching us what we need to do and who we need to contact."

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