photo BY PAUL BUNTING
It takes a village to create a new playground. In the case of the one that made its debut last week at the Sonoma Charter School, it took more than 150 volunteers to help dismantle the old equipment, prepare the site and build the new structure.
“Without the help of volunteers, a discount from the equipment manufacturer (who is an alum of my old high school in Wisconsin) and donations from local businesses, the cost of the project would have been close to $250,000,” said Nora Flood, director of the school. “We completed the project for just over $110,000.”
This is the first barrier-free playground north of San Francisco, accessible to both able-bodied and physically challenged children. The playground is open to the community after school, weekends, and during school vacations.’
“We named the playground “The Harmony Playground for All Children of All Ages.’ in honor of the Ledson Family Harmony Foundation for Children,” said Flood. “Steve Ledson made the lead gift of $20,000 last fall to kick off our fundraising. Then $31,000 was raised from our fund-a-need at our fall gala, $20,000 from our finance committee of the school, $4,000 from the Lions, and small amounts raised from numerous local groups and individuals. We are still seeking about $20,000 to put in the finishing touches.
Over 200 people attended the ribbon cutting on Thursday, Aug. 30, including: Michael Coats,representing the Harmony Foundation; Alden Brosseau, SCS governing board chairman; members of the SCS governing board; Nicole Abate Ducarroz, president of the SVUSD school board; Justin Frese, CFO of the SVUSD; and over 200 students and parents of SCS.
The ribbon was cut by Michael Coats and first-grader Creighton Rochlin. A painting of the playground plaque, designed and painted by art teacher Elizabeth Tashman, was unveiled and will be presented to Steve Ledson.
