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Brooklyn Park Summer Youth Program
Donation protected
The Brooklyn Park Summer Youth Program has been a hub of activities and belonging for 60 years. Countless kids and parents have enjoyed its mission, and have gained from it. For two decades it has been the only park program from Sellwood to Stark Street, and from McLoughlin Boulevard to Cesar Chavez Boulevard. A score of long-standing park programs in SE Portland have been eliminated. Brooklyn survived through 2016. There is no mystery to this. It was a crown jewel in Portland's summertime. It still is. Nothing has changed.
The Brooklyn neighborhood lost this invaluable program last year due to budget cuts. The community has come together and formed Friends of Brooklyn Park to administer the program for the summer of 2018 and beyond.
We have hired Craig Montag, the longtime director to run the program. We need to raise funds to pay for Craig's and his assistant's time, for supplies for the shack, administrative costs (bookkeeping, website, PO BOX, communication materials, permits, insurance). No funds go to the administrative team, we are an all volunteer board.
The Brooklyn Park Summer Youth Program has for decades been a gathering place for children of all grade levels. Here they find a safe, supportive climate that encourages play, learning, creativity and a feeling of family.
These neighborhood kids spent hundreds of hours at the park in their childhoods: waterslide that has been featured on television and newspaper; softball leagues, wiffle ball leagues and mushball; tennis golf course; painting of plaster figures; hundreds of Izzes earned through puzzle/intellectual challenges....dozens of trophies earned for exceptional achievement; the daily shuffleboard tournament; The Crazy Car; popcorn machine; roasting marshmallows; "Hot Wheels" raceway -- 60 feet of track; wood disk polishing; a dozen traditional Brooklyn games and activities; shared responsibility in taking care of the park pets (hamsters, guinea pigs); water battles with squirt guns and sponges. And more.
So many from our community have been touched by this program. We would be grateful if you could contribute and give back to Brooklyn and let this generation of kids enjoy the summertime jewel of SE Portland.
Thank you.
The Brooklyn neighborhood lost this invaluable program last year due to budget cuts. The community has come together and formed Friends of Brooklyn Park to administer the program for the summer of 2018 and beyond.
We have hired Craig Montag, the longtime director to run the program. We need to raise funds to pay for Craig's and his assistant's time, for supplies for the shack, administrative costs (bookkeeping, website, PO BOX, communication materials, permits, insurance). No funds go to the administrative team, we are an all volunteer board.
The Brooklyn Park Summer Youth Program has for decades been a gathering place for children of all grade levels. Here they find a safe, supportive climate that encourages play, learning, creativity and a feeling of family.
These neighborhood kids spent hundreds of hours at the park in their childhoods: waterslide that has been featured on television and newspaper; softball leagues, wiffle ball leagues and mushball; tennis golf course; painting of plaster figures; hundreds of Izzes earned through puzzle/intellectual challenges....dozens of trophies earned for exceptional achievement; the daily shuffleboard tournament; The Crazy Car; popcorn machine; roasting marshmallows; "Hot Wheels" raceway -- 60 feet of track; wood disk polishing; a dozen traditional Brooklyn games and activities; shared responsibility in taking care of the park pets (hamsters, guinea pigs); water battles with squirt guns and sponges. And more.
So many from our community have been touched by this program. We would be grateful if you could contribute and give back to Brooklyn and let this generation of kids enjoy the summertime jewel of SE Portland.
Thank you.
Organizer
Ben Tarne
Organizer
Portland, OR