Hanson Park is a hub of the Cherryville community, a place where lots of people hang out.
It was also the home of an aging, falling-apart-playground.
The Cherryville Community Club stepped in and up to the plate and began raising money for new playground equipment.
On Thursday, the club was boosted with a $3,000 Funtastic Sports Society community grant, one of 14 grants totalling $30,000 handed out to the North Okanagan organizations.
“The playground was really bad, it was wood and it was falling apart,” said Cherryville Community Club president Lynne Frerichs, who praised the efforts of Lyndsay Myers and Jenna Gordon for spearheading the fundraising effort. The trio was on hand at the VantageOne Indoor Soccer Centre to receive the grant.
“We started off with a $43,000 bill and it’s now down to $9,800. These gals (Myers and Gordon) have done a fantastic job.”
This is the 32nd year that Funtastic has contributed back to the community through its donations and grants program.
Since 1985, donations have totaled more than $1.7 million.
“The purpose of the Funtastic community investment grant is to provide financial support to non-profit sport, recreation and community organizations of a sports nature serving the Greater Vernon region,” said Funtastic board president Diana Williamson.
“Successful applicants will benefit from from the community grant program with an emphasis on projects that will continue to support the growth of sport and recreation in the region.”
Funtastic treasurer and community grant committee chairpersonVal Trevis said there were 32 applications requesting $155,000 in cash.
“Every one of them, you just want to give the money to,” said Trevis. “To narrow the gap is the tough part, and choosing the group becomes a real task in deciding who meets the criteria, who’s going to get the money and how much.”
The biggest grant went to the Silver Star Freestyle Club for $6,000.
Also receiving grants were:
Vernon Lawn Bowling Club ($4,000); Schubert Centre Society ($3,000); NONA Child Development Centre ($2,100); Sovereign Lake Nordic Club ($2,000); Vernon Soccer Association ($1,800); Vernon Minor Fastball Association, European Football Club of the Okanagan, Okanagan Stand Up Paddle Board Society ($1,500 each); Spinal Cord BC and North Okanagan Minor Lacrosse ($1,000 each); and Vernon Figure Skating Club and Vernon Tennis Association ($800 each).
All but the soccer and tennis association received grants for equipment. The Vernon Soccer Association will use the money for nets and the Vernon Tennis Association will use its grant for a hitting back board.
“With this grant we can expand our exercise room not only for our 1,200 members but for the condos that are being built next to us and start to take occupancy next week,” said Jack Gareb of the Schubert Centre Society upon receiving his grant. “There will be about 75 seniors there so this is a real big help.”
The Funtastic Slo-Pitch Tournament and Music Festival will run June 30 to July 3 in Vernon, Armstrong and Enderby.