Community Park Playground Donors (2012-2023)

On the morning of Saturday, December 15, 2012, Brisbane got a new playground. This had been a project which had been in the works for the previous 5 years. In 2012, it picked up remarkable steam thanks to the involvement of the Mothers of Brisbane with staff, along with the Playground Design Subcommittee of Parks and Recreation Commissioners Marmion and Bologoff, and of course, the Brisbane City Council who ultimately approved the project at their meeting of May 7, 2012.

For a playground that consisted of two phases - the expansion of the existing playbox and the build-out of a portion of the grassy area for the new, 3-bay swing set, funding was a major component for the project advancing forward. The total project cost ended up being approximately $229,000. Sixty-nine percent, or $158,000 of that was covered by Seton Medical Center Foundation, thanks to The Kennedy Trust, a fund which Frank and Mae Walch assumed custody over when Frank was on the Seton Medical Center Foundation Board of Directors.  Frank and Mae Walch were former Brisbane residents, and therefore ensured that what came to be known as the Brisbane Community Fund restricted account was only used on items that promoted health-related programs for the citizens of Brisbane. A proposal to use the remaining funds on a new community playground was approved by the Foundation's Board of Directors.

The next largest funding "bucket" is due to the efforts of Mothers of Brisbane 2012 Fundraising Chair Jennifer Bousquet and Founding Member, Jessica Aloft. Together they made presentations to the Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, wrote letters to Brisbane businesses, and tirelessly reached out to community members about buying a gold donor star. In total, $33,400 was raised as a result of their efforts! Thank you to Jennifer and Jessica, and all of the donors whose stars adorned the seatwall at the playground from 2012-2023. The playground wouldn't have been able to be enjoyed by the Brisbane community and visitors to the Park for over 11 years had it not been for their generous donations.