Spring Fundraisers Set For Park Playgrounds

The Treadwell Park Committee and the Newtown Lions Club have scheduled two fundraisers to complete the drive for the new playgrounds at Treadwell Park. Contrary to what has been reported, the money is not in place for both playgrounds. However, after the destruction of the newly installed playground for children two to five at the hands of an arsonist, Dr Hank Gellert and Star 99 set up a fund for the playground at the Newtown Savings Bank. An outpouring of money came from several companies as well as many individual Newtowners.

Because of these donations, the amount to rebuild the playground for children two to five, approximately $18,500, has been achieved. Additional money has also been donated and will be used to pay for the much larger playground for children 6 to 12. Total cost of the two playgrounds will be slightly in excess of $85,000. Members of the Treadwell Park Committee estimate that there is approximately $18,000 left to raise in order to erect both playgrounds.

To bring the playground to fruition, the Newtown Lions Club has scheduled two fundraisers for the spring. First will be a pancake breakfast to be held on Saturday, March 10, at the Methodist Church. Chairman Tony Ratzing promises reasonable prices and good food for all comers.

The second fundraiser will be a duck race. It will be held rain or shine on Saturday, May 27, the same weekend as the 19th annual Newtown statewide soccer tournament. Small rubber ducks will be available for purchase for $5 at various places around town and on various weekends in front of select stores. Sometime in the afternoon on May 27, they will be dumped in the Pootatuck River. About a quarter mile down the river, they will be collected. The first ten ducks to cross the finish line will win prizes. Tammy Marks and Debbie McGrath are responsible for soliciting donations. Anyone who would like to donate a prize to the duck race, please call Mrs Marks at 426-5333.

Jim Larin, chairman of the duck race, hopes to make this a townwide event. According to Mr Larin, “We welcome other groups to participate. Organizations in Newtown could set up booths, sell items, dispense information, paint faces, and any number of things.”

In the meantime, according to Lions President Gordon Williams, anyone wishing to donate to the building of the playground may do so by sending a check made out to the Treadwell Park Committee to the Newtown Savings Bank.