What do you get for contributing $60,000 over four years, along with hundreds of hours of volunteer time, to provide the community with a new outdoor basketball court with adjustable hoop, a new preschool-size playground and a renovated, soft-surface running trail?
In the case of the Springfield Rotary Club, it’s a prestigious honor presented by the Oregon Recreation and Park Association.
The association recently presented its 2009 Award for Volunteer Service, a statewide recognition honoring outstanding volunteer contributions to parks and recreation, to the Springfield club.
“Everyone is very excited,” Rotary club member Rodney Lathrop said. “Rotarians perform tremendous projects in the community and around the world; we just don’t often win awards.”
Every year, the Springfield Rotary chooses a signature project — something of lasting value that the club can channel about $15,000 into, along with a significant amount of sweat equity.
For four consecutive years, the club has selected to work with the Willamalane Park and Recreation District for its annual project.
“Rotary is all about service, and when Springfield Rotary can support Willamalane, we know we are helping kids and contributing to the quality of life that we all treasure here in Springfield,” Rotary club President Bill Grile said.
This year, the Rotary contributed $15,000 in club funds and the labor of more than 30 volunteers who helped spread gravel and make improvements at Springfield’s first dog park, located at the 32-acre Jack B. Lively Park north of Thurston Road.
Last year, the Rotarians made improvements to Pre’s Trail by clearing brush and improving signage.
Other projects have included the creation of a hard-surface basketball court in 2006 at Volunteer Park north of Jasper Road, and a playground and landscaping project in 2007 at the park district’s Community Recreation Center on South 32nd Street.
Next up: The Rotarians are back at Lively Park, adding an array of outdoor recreational amenities. Improvements will include two large group picnic shelters with cooking facilities, an 8,000-square-foot playground, and a dog park of almost four acres.
There also will be additional parking, sidewalks and site furnishings.
“Without the assistance of the Springfield Rotary Club, none of these projects would have occurred, or they would have been greatly reduced in scope,” Willamalane Superintendent Bob Keefer said. “Their donation of time and money has also helped the district leverage more than $700,000 in grants for the projects.”
The Springfield Rotary Club embraces park improvements and Willamalane projects because they are provided “shovel ready.” According to Lathrop, Willamalane has its projects mapped out and has gone through the design and selection phase, which makes providing help very easy for Rotarians.
In addition, the Rotary Club believes its mission meshes well with Willamalane’s.
“Rotary’s mission is ‘Service Above Self,’ ” Lathrop said. “These (Willamalane) projects have really invested in children and outdoor, clean recreation. They improve the livability of our community.”
The Oregon Park and Recreation Association, founded in 1954, serves as a network offering information and contacts directly related to the recreation and park profession. The Rotary Club was nominated for the award by Willamalane employees.
The Springfield Rotary Club was chartered on March 20, 1947. It has more than 100 active members.
