PORT ANGELES — This year’s community picnic at Erickson Park also will be the fulfillment of a dream.
The seventh annual picnic today will double as the grand opening of the new picnic shelter, which has been constructed over the last several weeks.
“We are a week later than we expected to be, but it is moving right along now,” said Steve Charno, president of the Dream Playground Foundation.
The picnic — which is open to the public and free — will run from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The Dream Playground Foundation will serve free ice cream, popcorn and beverages.
“After several years of work, this will really be an attractive site,” Charno said.
Volunteer groups will also set up games, Charno said.
“Those who use the playground a lot, such as the Girl Scouts and day cares, will set up some games to play,” he said. “It should be a lot of fun.”
At 1 p.m. a ceremony will celebrate the members of the committee who helped build the playground in 2002 and to have a ribbon cutting for the new picnic shelter.
Built by volunteers
The Dream Playground was built in five days in September 2002 by more than 2,000 local volunteers.
Starting in February 2002, the playground steering committee, in partnership with Kiwanis, raised about $185,000 to pay for the construction as well as in-kind donations.
The new picnic shelter was funded byFirst Federal, the Kiwanis Club of Port Angeles, the Albert Haller Foundation, the Benjamin N. Phillips Fund of the Seattle Foundation, the Fire Fighters of Port Angeles, Family Medicine of Port Angeles and 7 Cedars Casino.
The picnic structure also will feature permanent plaques in honor of the donors, Charno said.
Those who wish to purchase engraved pickets on the Dream Playground fence must do so by Saturday, Charno said.
The pickets will be available during the Saturday event for a donation of $25, which is tax-deductible.
Engraved pavers to be inserted in the sidewalks connecting the shelter the rest of Erickson Park will be available for the last time at the Saturday event as well
A 4-inch-by-8-inch block is $100, and an 8-inch-by-8-inch block is $150.
Lonnie Linn of Angeles Millwork & Lumber Co. gathered and donated materials for the structure, and Sterlings Savings donated plywood for the event.
Both donations are estimated to have saved thousands of dollars, Charno said.
Those who will be specifically honored at the event include Hank Gibson and Ken Smith of Gibson Design Services for architectural services, Zenovic & Associates for engineering and Walt Dalrymple and Bill Dedrick from Aldergrove Construction for site preparation and overall supervision.
Also, Ken and Andy Reandeau of Ken Reandeau for grading, Bill Roberds’ crew from Excel Utility Construction for excavating, Leon Leonard and the city parks department crew for pouring the slab, the Aldergrove Construction crew for setting the poles and beams, and Dwight Holmgren of Tri-County Truss and Bill Feeley and his crew for setting trusses and sheeting the roof.
Also, the Fors brothers of Diamond Roofing for roofing, Zeb Hueter of Nootka Masonry and Ed Johnston for masonry and Shannon Mangano for tile work.
To be honored for general carpentry work are Ken Morgan, Jack Ramberg, Jim Wright, Terry Johnson, Steve Anderson, Bob Zindel, Rex Springer, Ryan Jackson and Bill Chisham.
For more information, phone Charno at 360-452-1977.
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Reporter Paige Dickerson can be reached at 360-417-3535 or at paige.dickerson@peninsuladaily news.com.
