Grant funding in review
In September of 2016, the Pendleton Parks and Recreation applied to the Pendleton Foundation Trust for a grant for assistance with replacing and updating playground equipment at Aldrich Park, May Park and Sherwood Park. Some of the playground features had become unsafe, and newer, safer equipment was very much in need. This is a fine example of the kinds of grant requests that fit very well into our mission of the Pendleton Foundation Trust.
This particular project was of the “bundle” variety, a process that the State of Oregon uses when processing grants as an option to reduce the cost of similar projects by attempting to complete them all at the same time. This option is used commonly for curbing or street paving or similar capital projects. This was only the second successful bundling of playground equipment projects on record.
The process was not an easy one. To qualify for larger State of Oregon grants, private funding was also sorely needed in order to complete the projects. With assistance from the Pendleton Foundation Trust, the $145,000+ project budget was secured and the quest for new playground equipment was completed. Part of the urgent need of the project was recognizing the availability of playground equipment in local neighborhoods. All three parks needed attention not only due to the safety of the equipment available, but also the location of the parks and the ease of accessing nearby equipment for neighborhood children. Playground equipment technology has vastly improved over the years, replacing older unsafe spring operated equipment with safer, more appealing swings, climbers and slides.
The new equipment is wearing well, and should have a life of fun and accessibility for many years to come.
Capital projects like this one, along with the determination and creativity of our local city officials and citizens goes a long way to making Pendleton a great place to live. The many ways of accomplishing that are wide and varied. The Pendleton Foundation Trust takes your donations and ideas and strives to be uniquely suited to help your project in the future, and to help make Pendleton a fantastic community for our citizens of all ages.
