Tower Park Playground in Keysville was one of just six recipients that the Shentel Corporation chose for its 2015 Philanthropic Projects. A total of $15,000 was donated by Shentel in an effort to revitalize the local park.
On Friday, October 23, the first phase of the project became a reality as 200 cubic yards of mulch was delivered to the park. The first delivery truck was met early Friday morning by Cindy Rinker, Marketing Supervisor for Shentel, Paula Robbins, local volunteer and one of the original founders of the park and also by local volunteer and School Board member, Jay George. The three early birds were soon met by a swarm of Team Shentel employees and numerous other local volunteers, ready to pull on their gloves and get to work on the park's facelift.
On Wednesday of last week, the park was also the recipient of a base layer of wood chips donated by Ontario Hardwood. Their employee, Scotty Jackson, donated his own time to deliver the base layer and on Thursday, town employees Johnny Dix and Cecil Fowlkes donated their time as well, to spread the wood chip base.
Community involvement was not limited to the delivery and spreading of mulch however, as the Cruise-In Café of Keysville, donated and delivered pizzas to Friday's volunteers.
Keysville Town Council member Rhonda Benn stated that "a substantial donation like this one from Shentel makes such a big impact on small communities such as Keysville, and we are so grateful that Tower Park was chosen as one of the company's projects this year." "The efforts of the wonderful volunteers, local businesses, citizens, community leaders and the Town of Keysville and its employees played a strong role in making this greatly-needed revitalization a reality." "So many people came out on Friday to lend a helping hand that 200 cubic yards of mulch was delivered, scooped and spread by 1 p.m.," she continued.
Tower Park Playground was the dream of Benn and three other local women, Beverly Kunath, Sharon Layne and Paula Robbins. The four women, three moms and one aunt, kept running into each other at other county playgrounds and they formed a bond and decided Charlotte County needed a playground. The fund-raising began, and in June 2002, Phase 1 of the park opened. That in turn enabled them to qualify for a matching grant and a year later, Phase 2 was built. The women were thrilled at watching their vision unfold. "We hope the next generation of moms, dads, aunts, uncles, grandparents, etc., will continue to be vested in this wonderful asset," commented Benn. "It is such a great space for everyone to enjoy!"
The final phase of Shentel's donation will include a new piece of playground equipment and also power washing and refreshing the paint on the existing pieces.
