Playground Update (Posted
10/20/01):
The City of Portsmouth is in the
process of obtaining a site
review for the park located in the Panaway Manor housing area
within the Sherburne Civic Association neighborhood. When that
is completed, the city will put together a bid package and bid
the project out. SCA officers are hoping for a May installation
date.
"It is now our responsibility to
raise additional funds for any
extra items we may want ie: basketball court, benches, picnic
tables,
etc.," said Leslie Melfi, a member of the SCA Playground
Committee. "Northern Utilities has generously offered us
a challenge. For
every dollar we raise, they will meet that dollar, up to $12,500.
"Our efforts at National Night Out
and some door-to-door asking,
raised $684.00 which was presented to Portsmouth Mayor Evelyn
Sirrell when the challenge was presented. Our neighborhood yard
sale raised $70.00 from the participants and an additional $165.00
from items donated to sell. Thank you to all who have donated,"
said Melfi.
"We are in the process of setting
some dates at local eateries that will donate some of their proceeds
during specific hours. We will
post those times and dates as we get them," she added.
Anyone wishing to send in a donation may
send it to: Leslie Melfi,
c/o Sherburne Civic Association, 406 Greenside Ave, Portsmouth,
NH 03801. Checks should be made out to the "City of Portsmouth."
Anyone who has an idea for fund raising or would like to help
out, should call Leslie Melfi at 436-4561.
CITY MONEY (Posted
10/15/00):
As of October 10, 2000, City Manager
John Bohenko said he has put $50,000 in the City Capital Plan
for the Sherburne Playground.
If approved by City Council, the money
will be available for July 1, 2001. Mr. Bohenko feels that it
will be approved.
The city has control over purchase and
design of the playground equipment. Mr. Bohenko said to me that
he does not like where the equipment is right now, and will have
city engineers come out in the Spring to evaluate the area and
decide where the new equipment will be placed. Mr. Bohenko wants
to move the location for the new equipment due to drainage problems,
dangers posed by nearby trees and the close proximity to the
highway.
Any money we raise through other means
could be used toward other aspects of the park that have been
suggested such as a picnic gazebo, benches, paved track around
playground, and updating the basketball court--but all projects
must approved by the City regardless of whether or not the City
provides the funding.
We will be sending a letter to City Council
before January 1 to encourage them to approve $50,000 for our
park.
We hope to enlist volunteers from the
Timberland Co. to assemble the playground, once approved by the
City. This will cut the labor cost of installing the equipment
saving us 30 percent of the estimated project cost. Maybe we
could use this extra money for other equipment or other items
for the park.
FUNDRAISING:
I have spoken to Nancy Clayburgh,
who is the leader of PEP 2000. She is sending me a package to
use as a reference for letters and fundraising ideas. She has
offered her assistance to me if we should need it.
Please call Mr. Bohenko at (603) 431-2000
if you have any questions or comments.
Submitted by Lee Larusso, Playground
Project Chair
