It’s hard not to delight in the high-pitched squeals and infectious giggles that echo through the Plaza on any given day. For years, local and visiting children alike have dug tunnels to China in the sand, flown like birds on the swings and imagined themselves as swashbuckling pirates and fairy princesses on the play equipment. Thanks to Sonoma Valley’s Rotary Club, they will continue to do so for years to come.
As a Mother’s Day present to Sonoma, the Rotary Club spent last weekend refreshing both the big and little children’s playgrounds. According to the Rotary Club’s President Gary Edwards, the club sifted, raked and leveled the sand. They swept the rubber pads clean and brought in clean sand to replenish the supply, making both playgrounds like new again.
Some 60-plus years ago, the Rotary Club built the smaller of the two playgrounds, adding to the Plaza a spot for younger children to play. Edwards said, rather than build something and then walk away from the project once completed the Rotary Club is dedicated to “refreshing” what they construct on a regular basis. About 10 years ago, the Rotary Club was responsible for replacing the play equipment at the smaller playgroup with a child-safe and state compliant structure.
“Our goal at Rotary is to do projects and then breathe new life into them on a regular basis. I suspect in 10 years time, we’ll be refreshing the community center’s kitchen as well. It’s part of what we do,” said Edwards.
