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08.a2 Request to Lions - Playground Scandia-Marine Lions Club Request for Contribution ____________________________________________________________________________ Dear Contribution Requestor, Please complete the upper portion of the Contribution Request Form and return it to the Contribution Request Committee (CRC) Chair or to a member of the Scandia-Marine Lions Club who can present the request on your behalf. For a downloadable copy of the request form, please visit: http://www.scandiamarinelions.org/community-giving/ The request will be considered at the next CRC meeting (consult the Scandia-Marine Lions Club website for dates). If it meets CRC criteria, it will be passed to the Scandia-Marine Lions Club Board. If approved by the Board, it will move on to our Membership for final approval. Listed below is our Mission Statement and the ways in which Lions serve. Mission Statement To empower volunteers to serve their communities, meet humanitarian needs, encourage peace and promote international understanding through Lions Clubs. How We Serve Sight Programs We want everyone to see a better tomorrow. That's why we support sight programs and services including vision screenings, eye banks and eyeglass recycling; provide eye care services to those at risk of losing their sight and raise donations through campaigns like SightFirst and Campaign SightFirst II. Health Programs We believe everyone deserves a healthy life. From providing health programs that focus on hearing loss to supporting efforts to control and prevent diabetes, Lions volunteers are working to improve the health of children and adults around the world. Youth Volunteer Opportunities We empower the next generation. Whether it's providing youth volunteer opportunities and leadership experiences in a Leo club or sharing a message of peace through our Peace Poster contest, our youth programs invest in the future by reaching out to young people. Community and Environment Programs We serve local communities – and protect the planet. From performing hands-on community work and service projects to providing emergency assistance, our community and environment programs improve our communities – and protect the environment. Disaster Relief We are among the first to respond when disaster strikes. Our Disaster Preparedness and Relief Programs enable Lions to help local communities – and contribute to Lions relief efforts in other countries – in the event of a natural, man-made, or healthcare emergency Please note: The CRC meets the first Thursday of each month. To be considered at the next CRC meeting, requests must be received five days prior to the Thursday meeting. Requests received after that date will be considered at the next scheduled meeting. Scandia-Marine Lions Club Request for Contribution ______________________________________________________________________________ Project: New Playground for the Scandia Community Center Requested by: Scandia Parks and Recreation Committee, City of Scandia Address: 14727 209th St. N. Scandia, MN 55073 City: Scandia State: MN ZIP Code: 55073 Submitted by Lion: Terry Gorham Amount Requested: $10,000 How does this request support LCI’s mission and vision? (Attach additional sheet(s) if necessary.) Attached List other funding sources for this organization or project: Please see the explanation in the “Note:” below. Approximate number of people served or benefited by this donation: 4000-6000 (see explanation below) ______________________________________________________________________________ Approvals (To be completed by CRC Chairperson.) CRC BOARD CLUB Motion by: ___ Motion by: ___ Motion by: ______ Seconded by: ___________ Seconded by: ___________ Seconded by: _____________ Votes For: ______________ Votes For: ______________ Votes For: ________________ Votes Against: ___________ Votes Against: ___________ Votes Against: ____________ Approved: __ Rejected: ___ Approved: __ Rejected: ___ Approved: ___ Rejected: ____ Date: ___ Date: Date: ____ ______________________________________________________________________________ Account to be paid from: Admin _____ Contributions _____ Gaming _____ Other_____ ______________________________________________________________________________ Signed by CRC Chair: Date: Signed by President: Date: Date delivered to treasurer: Make check payable to: Check number: Date issued: Issued by: Please mail your request to Scandia-Marine Lions Club CRC, P.O. Box 151, Scandia, MN 55073 or e-mail scandiamarinelionsclub@gmail.com Note: The city has allocated $95,000 towards the project. In turn, they are requesting a 1-1 match from the DNR to meet the planned costs of the project. A contribution from the Lions will allow for a greater matching request, i.e., a $10,000 contribution from the Lions would drive a $105,000 request from the DNR. The Lions donation of $10,000 is equal to $20,000 if the city is awarded the DNR Grant'. Though the plans are largely complete, this additional funding would allow for additional ADA-compliant play structures, improved adjacent picnic areas with additional picnic tables and shade structures, and access to nearby proposed connecting trails This request is for a resource that will benefit the community with a modern, ADA- accessible playground that will encourage children and their caregivers to be active and healthy. Healthy and active kids develop a mindset to prioritize physical wellness as adults. Obesity and excess weight are well-documented risks for developing Type 2 diabetes. Providing opportunities for kids to engage in active play will likely decrease their risk for obesity and excess weight not only in childhood but may extend into adulthood as well. In addition, multi-generational play spaces, such as playgrounds, will encourage their caregivers to engage in active play as well. A playground is a gathering place for families. It encourages social and community involvement, a sense of community, and enhances the livability of Scandia. The current playground is reaching its end-of-life use, with many components outdated, unattractive, and not in adherence with modern playground equipment code standards. For example: • The current playground area is designated by metal landscape edging that extends approximately 10” above the ground. There is currently not an entrance area for wheelchairs, scooters, or other mobility support devices. • The current playground surface is sand, which is incompatible with mobility support devices, walkers, or crutches. • The current swings at the playground are approximately 12-feet high, which is outside current of industry playground standards. Having such a high swing system is a risk for greater injury due to fall height and requires a large space around the structure for safety. The current swing system does not include any ADA-accessible swings. Updating the swing play structure to include ADA features will provide a more inclusive play experience and will reduce the wasted space currently needed for the high swing bays. This has everyday implications to members of the community and our many visitors. For example: • A child in a wheelchair sitting outside the sandy playground area is unable to join his or her friends as they play on the equipment. • Grandparents who bring their grandchild to the playground, but who - because they use a walker or cane - can't stand or sit near where the child is playing or even join them on the swings because of the unstable sandy surface. The new playground will be ADA-compliant, meeting the needs of those with disabilities. At a minimum, the current playground structure will include: • Poured rubber surfacing at select areas to allow entrance into the playground structure and provide access to select play features. • Two ADA-accessible swings. • ADA rated stairs (2’rise and 4’ span) and hand-rails on play structures. The new ADA playground surfacing, ADA-compliant transfer stations and ADA playground entrance will ensure high-quality and safe recreation upon completion of the project. If funding permits, the project may include a perimeter walking trail and picnic area to allow for individuals with disabilities the opportunity to gather in the park space and enjoy the use of the playground structures. The access to the playground from the sidewalk will be zero entry directly onto the poured -in-place rubber surfacing which leads to selected play features. The remaining play areas will be accessible with the engineered wood fiber, which is also certified as ADA compliant. A conceptual playground layout is enclosed, along with an equipment inventory list. In addition, there are several playground components selected to introduce sensory and creative play, including: • Small playhouse with featured “Community Helpers” graphics. • Textured sensory panels • Adult-child facing “generation” swing. The closest ADA compliant playground is 8 miles away at Big Marine, the other is 10 miles away in Osceola. The Minnesota State Demographic Center indicates the 2019 population (most recent published data) of Scandia is 4,054 persons, with 1,531 households (Minnesota State Demographic Center, 2022). However, several seasonal events in Scandia attract neighboring community residents, as well as families from all over the Twin Cities Metro Area (TCMA), including Taco Daze, Vinterfest, the Fat Cat Triathlon, the Scandia Farmers Market, and various Gammelgarden events. Based on average attendance at these events, it is estimated that 4,000 to 6,000 children, along with their families and/or caregivers, will visit and enjoy this playground on an annual basis. The Community Center playground will stand out from other area playgrounds in that: • It is owned by the City of Scandia, and therefore, its residents and businesses. The City of Scandia has performed public engagement initiatives for this project, including a community survey and development of a committee specific to this playground equipment upgrade. These initiatives were undertaken to ensure the features selected meet the needs and desires of Scandia residents. • The selected equipment will include modern features and amenities. • It is located at the Community Center, with a large parking lot and restroom access (including an ADA-accessible portable restroom), and will provide supplemental entertainment at Community Center located events, such as Taco Daze and Vinterfest and the Farmers Market • The play features were specifically selected to appeal to children ages ranging from toddlers up to 12-years old. In addition, it is adjacent to a tennis court currently used for playing pickleball, so it encourages multi-generational activities in close proximity. Future plans, if funding permits, will include a perimeter walking trail and adult fitness components, such as a designated outdoor yoga area. Here is a drawing of the proposed playground. This view from above shows detail of accessibility Parking Lot Tennis Courts This shows the location of the playground, adjacent to the parking lot and tennis courts, with ADA-accessible approaches to the area.