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Photo Credit: James W. Robinson/Suffolk News-Herald

 

In their continuing effort to improve recreational areas within the City of Suffolk, Suffolk Parks and Trails Alliance presented a $10,020.00 check to Suffolk Parks and Recreation on Friday, Sept. 20.

Working with the city, SPTA’s funds will be used to upgrade the kids zone playground at Lake Meade Park as well as replace the park’s playground equipment. During the check presentation, Director of Parks and Recreation Mark Furlo, Suffolk Parks and Trails Alliance Co-Chairs Katherine Cross and Jean Carmean had a chance to talk about the donation. Furlo expressed how grateful he and the department are for the donation.

“It really helps us towards replacing that equipment, it’s going to be a big help,” Furlo said. “We’re excited to get that new equipment into the playground.”

Noting how much of a big help SPTA has been in the past, Furlo says they worked to fundraise for additional lights towards Parks and Recreation’s annual Festival of Lights holidays event at Sleepy Hole Park.

“They’ve just been a really good partner to work with,” Furlo said.

Carmean also detailed on additional initiatives the Alliance is working on.

“… We’re putting in trails, we’ve actually put a new trail over at Lone Star Lakes, and I have a boy scout — they’re working on an eagle project [and] he’s putting in a bridge and some benches there,” Carmean said. “And we do clean up at the Suburban Trail.”

On this benefit towards Lake Meade’s playground, Furlo expressed how important they are as a safe space for children to learn about themselves.

“You develop locomotive skills, you get a chance to test limits in a safe environment,” he said. “So, playgrounds are very important to the development of children.”

“And get away from those devices!” Cross followed up humorously.