By Tricia Wiltshire Potts
The Capitola Aptos Rotary Club community dinner and auction in honor of Supervisors Zach Friend and Bruce McPherson raised $90,140 to support Treasure Cove at Jade Street Park in Capitola.
Rotary members presented the check to County Park Friends, which is in the midst of a campaign to raise $1 million dollar for the universally-accessible playground as part of a public-private partnership with the City of Capitola.
Rotary’s successful fundraising efforts were matched 1:1 by a $250,000 challenge grant from the Monterey Peninsula Foundation, host of the annual AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am golf tournament.
“Thanks to the generosity of the Monterey Peninsula Foundation and the support from the Capitola Aptos Rotary Club and other community members, we are happy to announce we have raised over $500,000 for the playground,” said Mariah Roberts, executive director of County Park Friends.
“Our Rotary club is highly gratified at the outpouring of support at our sold-out event,” said Lowry Fenton, club president. “Capitola’s mayor, vice mayor, city council, event sponsors, donors and community members showed their commitment to building a public space that can be enjoyed by all.”
People attending saw the conceptual plans for Treasure Cove, enjoyed dinner and entertaining stories from McPherson’s and Friends’s county supervisor careers, and participated in a lively auction.
Friend said, “The Capitola Aptos Rotary has led the way in improving park access for our community. From LEO’s Haven to Willowbrook to Treasure Cove at Jade Street Park, future generations will experience parks in a new way because of the leadership, love and commitment of club members.”
Capitola Vice Mayor Yvette Brooks, who spearheaded the City of Capitola’s planning for the playground, said, “I am grateful to Capitola Aptos Rotary for its hard work and generosity which will benefit all children for years to come.”
The Rotary Club has more fundraisers planned this year, including a Kentucky Derby party on May 4, and a pickleball tournament (date TBA).
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To view the new playground design, see www.countyparkfriends.org/jadestpark.
Photo Credit: Rotarian Doug Deaver