PORT ANGELES — The purchase of new play equipment for Shane Park, the goal of a community fundraising effort, has been approved.
The Port Angeles City Council on Tuesday voted unanimously to buy the $94,896 play set from Allplay Systems and contribute another $21,000 toward its installation.
The decision was met by applause from the audience and comments of gratitude from Janet Young, Shane Park Playground Committee president, who has spearheaded the effort to get new play equipment at the park named after her deceased son.
“I want to thank the whole town if they were here,” said Young, who was also given several rounds of applause.
“The community has worked tirelessly.
“I couldn’t have done it without them.”
The play set, which includes three slides, monkey bars, tunnels and other toys, is also fully wheelchair-accessible.
To date, $115,896 has been raised for the project, with $34,896 coming from donations and another $81,000 from the city.
Another $11,600 still needs to be raised to install the play set, its concrete foundation and the rubber tile that will provide a soft surface for playing children.
City Parks Superintendent Corey Delikat said he is confident that will be raised in time to install the play set this summer.
The committee also plans to raise another $16,500 to install swings and additional soft tiles for children.
The playground will be 6,105 square feet when finished.
Young and other members of her committee have been working since October 2010 to raise the funds.
Her son, Shane Fowler, was killed Aug. 13, 1973, while the park was being built.
The 9-year-old boy was playing on a 4-foot-diameter concrete ring that was standing upright when it fell on top of him.
The next Shane Park fundraising event, a bunco tournament, is planned from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. today at the Port Angeles Senior Center, 328 E. Seventh St.
Tickets are $12 and are available at Port Book and News, 104 E. First St.
The event will include refreshments, prizes and a 50/50 raffle.
Donations for the playground equipment, with checks made out to the Kiwanis Foundation, can be mailed to Shane Park Playground, P.O. Box 1064, Port Angeles, WA 98362.
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Reporter Tom Callis can be reached at 360-417-3532 or at tom.callis@peninsuladailynews.com.
