 | | | Carlene McCart, right, the interim parks and recreation director talks with volunteers. Photo Sophie Braccni | | | | | | Carlene McCart looked with an appreciative eye at the 50 or so volunteers working hard on Dec. 9 to build the new Moraga all-access playground. The interim parks and recreation manager for Moraga comes from San Rafael where a similar installation was under her supervision. She said that she was struck by the number of volunteers present, something quite unique from her perspective; she also noted how comprehensive and spacious the park was, a luxury very few have in the Bay Area.
For Kevin Reneau, the Moraga Rotarian who advocated for this project for his club and Steve Woehleke, the new club president, this was a day of hard work and immense pride. They worked side-by-side with Kiwanians, Saklan students, Boy Scouts from Troop 246, and residents with no particular affiliation that were there to be part of the project, such as Moraga Town Council Member Jeanette Fritzky.
John Bawden, local representative of the playground equipment manufacturer Ross Recreation, explained that organizing this day had required some preparation and needed constant management. But he said that the 50 volunteers would achieve in one day what a small team of professional builders would take a week to assemble. On the ground, stations were prepared, with parts laid out and plans to follow. Bawden noted that most people in fact needed little supervision and were doing a great job.
Public Works/Parks Maintenance Manager Kyle Salvin was also there. He commented that the town's contractor still had work to do, sanding the concrete retaining walls and finishing the paths that would lead from the parking lot to the park. Reneau explained that the rubberized surface will be installed next week and that the inauguration should be scheduled sometime at the beginning of the year. The Rotary Club of Moraga will install a plaque in the park. The club raised over $300,000 for the creation of this park, which is a gift to the town in celebration of the club's 50th anniversary.
Salvin expects the inauguration to be held on Jan. 7.
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Lamorinda Weekly, Moraga CA