CHERRY CREEK - After four years of planning and fundraising, Cherry Creek has a new playground.
A dedication ceremony was held Sunday, a month after groundbreaking for the playground. Nearly 70 adults and children were on hand for the occasion, held under cloudy skies and the warmest temperatures the area has seen in quite a while.
Nancy Hall, playground committee chairperson,, led the festivities with help from the Junior Girls from Pine Valley VFW Post 2522, who participated in leading the Pledge of Allegiance, with the flag being held by State President Monica Kenney, assisted by Emily Pfleuger. The National Anthem was sung by Sue Ann Fish.
Article Photos
Katherine, Julia, Jane and Jack Fortna, grandchildren of Joe and Linda Powell, play on the swings at the new playground.
P-J photos by Sue Ann Fish
"This is what happens when a group of people pulls together," said Mayor Bruce Fish. "The Community Association is a great organization that sponsors the Independence Day Celebration each year, the Memorial Park, the Gazebo Concert Series, and now this playground, which makes a great statement about out community and is an asset to our area."
Congratulations and best wishes were communicated from the office of state Assemblyman Andrew Goodell, R-Chautauqua County by Elisabeth Rankin.
"I'm really impressed with the number of people who came together to do this," she said. "When people come together, you can really do something. It strengthens the community."
Mrs. Hall read a letter from County Executive Gregory J. Edwards, who was unable to attend due to a prior commitment.
"I sincerely appreciate all of the hard work by the Cherry Creek Association and the Cherry Creek Fire Department to improve our community and to create a safe place for our children to play," the letter read.
Mrs. Hall presented a symbolic key to the playground to Fish, who then cut a ceremonial red ribbon to officially open the playground.
A plaque which will hang in the soon to be renovated grandstand was unveiled. The plaque was made by the VanWormer family and lists the names of those who donated to the playground effort. Those who participated in the gift campaign were the Southern Chautauqua Federal Credit Union, Dave and Nancy Hall and Joe and Linda Powell. Bronze gift donors include Cattaraugus County Bank, the Ernest and Joyce Chase family, the Glenn C. Darling family, Fredonia Animal Hospital, Herb and Barb Nobles, NOCO Energy Corp., the Ronald Schultz family, the Young family and another donor who wanted to remain anonymous.
Individuals and businesses also donated and include: Adams Lumber, Cherry Creek Fire Department, Covey Tree Inc., Mark Cunningham Construction, Frost Builders Supply, the Jeff and Jennifer Miller Farm, Pine Valley VFW Post 2522, Quikrete, Rodgers & Sons Inc., the town and village of Cherry Creek, Tri James Services Inc., the Trillium Lodge, Dave and Jenn VanWormer, Villanova Grange 604 and Angela Anderson. The VanWormer family and the Rogers family donated benches for the playground.
The playground, a "Go Play" unit, is made of recycled, structured plastic and is an environmentally friendly product. Being comprised of recycled plastics, it allows the playground to be non-toxic, as well as rot, fungus and flame resistant. It is non-porous and immune to termites and other boring insects, is low maintenance, fade resistant and does not require painting of other forms of treatment.