Written by Kaye Frataccia, Co-chair Valplayso Children's Committee
Building ValPlayso- The Next Generation is not only an opportunity to renovate a park, it’s an opportunity to build a sense of community and to pass the torch to the next generation. In 1994, my husband and I were just beginning our lives as parents and members of the community. It was a wonderful community and we loved the “Spirit of Valparaiso.”
I was lucky to be asked to co-chair the ValPlayso Children’s Committee with Sandy Horne. We met with hundreds of children who told us their ideas for a playground. They were so happy and excited. eir enthusiasm was contagious.
Now, 20 years later, the children are grown and many of them are parents. The park we built in 1994 now holds fond memories. As we have grown and aged, so has the park. It is ready to be rejuvenated. The wood is beautiful, but it holds splinters and it’s costly to maintain. Many children are unable to use the park because it was not built to be inclusive. Parents have said they have limited visibility when trying to monitor their children. It’s time for a facelift.
After 20 years, the “Spirit of Valparaiso” is still vibrant. As young parents, we learned from the best – Art Malasto, Chuck Welter and Jon Costas. They had vision and led us through the process of building a park as well as building a feeling of community. As they passed the torch to our generation, we must pass it to the next one. As co-chairs of ValPlayso-The Next Generation, Rob Thorgren and I are honored to stand on the shoulders of our past leaders and work to keep the “Spirit of Valparaiso” alive.
We have spoken to over 3,500 children and have heard their dreams. While many things in society have changed since 1994, some things have remained the same – children’s hopes and dreams, a sense of community and working toward a common goal.
Why Valplayso-The Next Generation? Through the rebuilding of the park, we will renew our community spirit, because it’s not just a playground, it’s an opportunity for generations to work together. I am blessed to be a part of this project.
To learn more or to volunteer visit www.ValPlayso.com.