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But that wasn't all. I had a chance to hear our city clerk, Debbie Lee, sing the national anthem and I know she did a good job since I got goose bumps as she hit the crescendo.
Still, that wasn't it... not only did I get to watch mayor Pro-Tem Ben Benoit throw out one of the first pitches... um, what can I say... sorry Ben, there are no open spots on my fantasy team's pitching staff... but I got to watch a pregame presentation of Ashley Fox and her Freedom Swing project.
I didn't get a chance to speak to her at the game, but I have to guess that it was a great experience to be down on the field as she was.
Her project, a wheel chair accessible swing at Marna O'Brien Park, will be unveiled this August 23rd starting at 5pm. I suggest you carve out some time to go see our community in action.
Watch the video to get a feel of the evening.
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The author of Wildomar Rap has never thrown like a girl... not even when throwing left handed. ☺
If you do the facebook thing... come over and like the page to keep up with the latest uploads.
I guess its time to rain on the parade. The "Freedom Swing" should not be installed in any of Wildomar's parks until such time as this city understands a park is more than a lot with grass. Ask yourself a few questions, 1. What happen to the inspection of the tot lot equipment that was going to occur with the grant money received. 2. When is the last time the materials in the tot lots were leveled to the ASTM 1292 Standard, does anyone in the city even know what that might be. (Bark in the Park Day resulted in materials being spread over the existing material with no idea how deep any of it was) 3. When was the last time the drainage system in the tot lots was inspected, without proper drainage the materials currently used (are they certified) will compact. In talking to the current park employee, he has not the foggiest idea if there even is a drain. One only needs to visit the dog park to see how expensive renovations are allowed to deteriorate to an unusable state.
ReplyDeleteKenny Mayes
We wouldn't expect you to do anything but "rain on the parade" Ken. You can't ever seem to bring yourself to say "good job" - even when it is a project that is a fundraiser to install a Freedom Swing to benefit children. Nothing like using any chance to complain about something. I say congrats to Ashley, her mom, and everyone who worked to make the Freedom Swing project a success! sheila
ReplyDeleteSheila
DeleteI expected nothing less than a total suck up to the city out of you, so I guess we have stayed our course. All one has to do is go to any one of the three "Tot Lots" in the city, get on your hands and knees, and look near the bottom of any of the green post. What you will see is most shocking. Let's hope a child does not fall from the top of any of the equipment because the care and maintenance of these play areas by the City of Wildomar is substandard beyond comparison and places all children at risk.
Kenny Mayes
Once again- not sure why it is so hard for you to say congratulations about the freedom swing? You say there problems at the parks? I agree. However I go to plenty of parks in the area and so far I have not seen any perfect places. I also see plenty of people using our parks and playgrounds, warts and all. By the way what playground is so well maintained that it would be safe for a child to fall from the top of any piece of equipment? I dare say a fall from such a height onto even a rubber base would be dangerous. ...sheila
DeleteAs quickly as you answered it is obvious you have not checked out any of Tot Lots.
DeleteNot once did I attack Ms. Fox and her efforts. The fault here lies entirely with the City of Wildomar in approving this project before they have any idea of what it is they are doing. You claim to have visited numerous parks with defects so that makes it OK for Wildomar to have imperfect parks. The problem with that is that the State of California has adopted by statute the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Handbook for Public Playground Safety which now requires that all public playgrounds conform to these safety standards. Wildomar comes no where close to meeting these standards which opens the door to litigation by any injured party. Can you say deep pockets.
Has anyone bothered to mention that Ashley raised the money to pay for the Freedom Swing? If you are so upset about the condition of the tot lots in the parks, get off your butt and raise the money to renovate them and stop complaining about someone who did see a need and went to the trouble of raising the money to contribute.
DeleteI get off my rear end to pay my annual property taxes part of which goes to pay for the maintenance and operations of Wildomar Parks. The City of Wildomar in the official press release of March 6, 2014 made the statement that the Tot-Lots would be inspected prior to the parks being reopened, they were not. For the City of Wildomar to allow any new apparatus to be installed in the park before they are inspected by a Certified Playground Safety Inspector is just plain foolish and places all taxpayers at risk of the parks being closed due to a lawsuit.
DeleteKenny Mayes
Anyone can sit around and criticize. It takes a special person to see a need and than step out of their comfort zone, and do something positive about it. The world would be a much better place it everyone in it would lead by example. Joseph thank you for your wonderful article.
ReplyDelete