The Hamline Hoyt Playground and Community Beautification Project
Who
Chelsea Heights PTO, with support and guidance from SPPS and St Paul Parks and Recreation, is designing an exciting new look for the North Como Recreation Center outdoor space.
What
The goal of our beautification efforts is to transform the current site (playground area and school grounds) into a neighborhood green space with new, safer, and more accessible playground equipment, community gardens, plants and flowers. A butterfly garden with natural prairie grasses and flowers has already been planted and will also serve as a learning opportunity for students as well as community. We envision seating for adults, and a small outdoor classroom for students to learn more about the environment.
This project comes from the goals of the PTO to encourage active, physical play that will provide children with the opportunities specifically designed to provide fun while increasing overall health, exercising large and small muscle groups, and stimulating coordination. The new equipment will be more accessible to children with both physical and sensory disabilities.
Why
The current playground equipment and surrounding recreation outdoor spaces were last updated 16years ago. As you can see from the photos below, the community is in need of a safe place to play. The reason why the PTO is taking on this project is because we have learned that our community play area is 34rth on the City’s list of area playgrounds to be replaced. At the rate the city is currently replacing playgrounds, we understand our ours won’t be at the top of the list for at least 12 more years! We don’t want to wait that long for a safe and beautiful place for our children to play.
How to get involved
The project is estimated to cost between $250,000- $300,000. The PTO is reaching out to our community to ask for your support in working with us to create this new green and active community space.
We kicked off the fundraising campaign at the 2010 Chelsea Heights spring carnival in May. It was a terrific success, bringing in over $8,000. Clearly, though, we have a long way to go.
Because there are many facets to this project there are many ways to be involved and to use your talents, time, expertise, resources and skills. The committee is organizing efforts around grant writing, strategically approaching local businesses, identifying potentially valuable connections community members already have with companies/organizations while making others, and holding fundraising events. All of which are important for achieving our goal, and all of which take time, effort, and resources. We welcome financial contributions, expertise, in kind donations, creativity, and your willingness to spread the word.
Monetary donations can easily be made through our PayPal account below. If you can help in others ways please contact Steve Finnegan