On the West side of Phoenix, Arizona, there is an area of approximately one square mile that has approximately 1500 children of low-income or poverty level families. In the area, there is a high incidence of drug use and gang activity. There is no recreation facility for the kids in the area and the one school must close its doors and playground because of the problems in the area. A neighborhood group has formed a "Kids Street" program to provide an area for the kids to play on Saturdays. Working with the local merchants, Rotary, and the City, they close a street on Saturdays and the City provides some recreational activities for the kids. The kids receive a lunch provided on a rotating basis by the local merchants and the Phoenix West Rotary Club.
The neighborhood group has planned a park that will be built in two stages: (1) the Park itself with playground equipment, and (2) a community center will follow that will have indoor activities for the children and will also have a police substation to offer additional security for the kids and the park. The park will be community funded and maintained and operated by the City.
Phoenix West Rotary / District 5490 and the Edmonton Northeast Rotary / District 5070 have joined together to provide the playground equipment for the park. The funds for this Matching Grant Project are donated as follows:
| Phoenix West Rotary | $ 3,750 |
| Edmonton Northeast Rotary | $ 3,750 |
| Rotary District 5490 | $ 3,750 |
| Rotary District 5370 | $ 3,750 |
| Rotary International | $15,000 |
| Total Project | $30,000 (US Dollars) |
The project is estimated to be completed by December 31, 2000.
Due to the efforts of many, especially Don Quinn of Phoenix West Rotary and Cory Cunningham of Edmonton Northeast Rotary, our project to supply playground equipment at Kid's Street Park was a great success. The City of Phoenix held grand opening ceremonies on Saturday, December 9, 2000 at 11:00 AM. Over 1000 people attended the dedication as neighborhood children started to make use of the park. Below are pictures of the event.
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