Archived News Release: July 30, 2015 - The City of Ann Arbor Parks and Recreation Services and Rotary Club of Ann Arbor will unveil the Centennial Playground Project at a special event, Sundae in the Park, on Sunday, Aug. 9 from 3-5 p.m. at the Gallup Park Picnic Shelter (3000 Fuller Road).
This event for the entire family will feature a brass ensemble from the Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra, ice cream for purchase from the Hello! Ice Cream truck, games for children, and other activities. The gathering will also showcase unveiling of plans for a major new project that will benefit families and children for many years to come — a new universal access playground. The event will take place in the east section of Gallup Park on the proposed site near the existing play structure and picnic shelters, rain or shine.
The Rotary Club of Ann Arbor celebrates its 100-year anniversary in 2016 and has chosen to commemorate the milestone with a Centennial Playground Project at Gallup Park in partnership with the City of Ann Arbor Parks and Recreation Services. This universal access playground is designed to be usable by all people to the greatest extent possible exceeding standards under the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Ashish Sarkar, the Rotary Club's 2015-2016 president, said the playground will be a state-of-the-art facility designed to serve all — young and old, as well as those with and without physical challenges — and will offer a unique opportunity for families to enjoy the beauty of the Huron River.
The Rotary Club of Ann Arbor is raising funds along with contributions from club members, individuals, foundations and grants and with an allocation from the City of Ann Arbor. Construction is expected to begin in 2016.
"This is an exciting and important project, and we're incredibly fortunate to have the Rotary Club of Ann Arbor as partners," said Colin Smith, the city's parks and recreation manager. "Ann Arbor Parks and Recreation has some 80 playgrounds, but none are universal access playgrounds."
In the past year, the Rotary Club of Ann Arbor contributed more than 7,500 hours of service and $155,000 in contributions to local and international projects.
For further information about Rotary and the Centennial Playground Project: www.annarborrotary.org/node/1143. You can also learn more about Ann Arbor Parks and Recreation Services by visiting www.a2gov.org/parks.
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