Dinner to benefit 2nd phase of Hannastown playground improvements
Organizers are planning an April 29 dinner to raise funds for a second phase of improvements at a community playground in the Hempfield village of Hannastown.
The inaugural fundraising dinner will feature an Italian menu including salad, bread and dessert. It will be served from 1 to 5 p.m. at the Hannastown Firemen’s Club, 189 Front. St., directly across from the playground.
A nonprofit operates the playground on property owned by the fire department and is looking to obtain about $75,000 for the site, according to chief fundraiser Edward Buggs III.
He said the group wants to add a play structure with climbing and sliding features, a separate climbing wall, seesaws and rubber mulch material that would be placed beneath play equipment.
“We’ve got a lot of support in our community,” Buggs said. “Contributions will be used to qualify for additional state funding to complete the project.”
He said the nonprofit wants to improve a pavilion at the site by installing concrete flooring. It also wants to cover annual maintenance costs at the playground and provide arts and crafts programming and a basketball instructor for children.
Local kids kicked off initial playground improvement efforts last year, raising about $1,800 when they set up a stand to sell lemonade, iced tea and cookies.
As a result, volunteers from local families and the fire department were able in September to install upgraded features including new swings, a jungle gym and a sandbox.
Other donations covered surface sealing and new paint on the playground’s basketball court.
The expanded playground offerings are meant to “help children build relationships within the community and with other children who come to visit,” according to the nonprofit’s website, hannastownplayground.com.
The fundraising dinner also will feature basket raffles, door prizes, a cash bar and music provided by a local disc jockey.
Tickets are available for a $20 donation, by contacting Lisa Buggs at 412-346-2802. Seating is limited.
Jeff Himler is a TribLive reporter covering Greater Latrobe, Ligonier Valley, Mt. Pleasant Area and Derry Area school districts and their communities. He also reports on transportation issues. A journalist for more than three decades, he enjoys delving into local history. He can be reached at jhimler@triblive.com.
Remove the ads from your TribLIVE reading experience but still support the journalists who create the content with TribLIVE Ad-Free.