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July 1, 2003 - Rotary Club plans new ballfields for town... |
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Rotary Club plans new ballfields for town
By Shayna Douby / Correspondent
Tuesday, July 1, 2003 – Ipswich Chronicle
Announcement comes as gazebo is dedicated at YMCA
As Rotary International prepares to celebrate its 100th anniversary, the club's local chapter is planning to create a new park and ballfields off County Road.
Ipswich Rotarians bore the heat last Thursday to celebrate the dedication of a gazebo they gave to the YMCA, and the kickoff of Rotary Park, the Club's Centennial project.
Dedication Day took place in the gazebo behind the Y at 110 County Road. The gazebo, which was built by Shakers in Pennsylvania, was donated to the Y by the Ipswich Rotary Club, whose members also raised the money to build it. It will be used as a place where summer camp attendees and other youths can gather.
"It's a meeting place and that's what a gazebo is about," said Gerry Beauchamp, executive director of the Ipswich YMCA. Beauchamp said the youths need to have different meeting places for their activities.
He thanked the Ipswich Rotary for Rotary Park, their Centennial initiative, and for the Gazebo.
"It's a meeting place for the children in the morning and later in the day as well," Beauchamp said about the gazebo.
Space to play ball
Another purpose for the ceremony was to officially announce the building of Rotary Park, which will include a soccer field, baseball field, outdoor basketball court, and park benches, all behind the Ipswich YMCA, for use by Y members, Ipswich residents, and others. The anticipated completion date for the project is the spring of 2005.
The building of Rotary Park is the Ipswich Rotary Club's Centennial project. Rotary International asked each club to complete a community project by 2005, Rotary's Centennial year. The Ipswich club proposed five different projects before voting on one. Rotary Park was the winner.
The Rotary Centennial is a chance for Rotary clubs to present their projects. All projects must be completed by February 2005, which is the Rotary Centennial month.
During the dedication kick-off, Ed Bryant, co-chairman of the Rotary Park Steering Committee, explained why the ceremony was so important to Rotarians.
"It's not only Dedication Day, it's part of the 100th anniversary celebration," he said.
According to Larry McNeil, co-chairman of the Rotary Park Steering Committee, the Ipswich Rotary Club provides a community gift every year. The gazebo is their gift for the year ending in June 2001.
Rotary is a worldwide service organization of business and professional leaders that develops community service projects and supports youth and educational programs.
Rotary President Jim Sorrento, whose term ended on July 1 when Bill Nelson was to take over, participated in the dedication ceremony, describing the Rotary Club of Chicago as the world's first service club.
"As the organization grew, Rotarians began pooling their resources to help serve communities in need," he said about the Rotary Club. He went on to say that among other things, Rotarians support programs for youths.
The gazebo dedication and Rotary Park projects are truly a group effort.
"The whole membership is helping out, not just a handful," Ipswich Rotarian and Steering Committee member Donald Whiston said. When asked why the group was interested in this type of project, he had one answer: children.
"Look at the children that are here. That's why we're really interested in it."
Whiston also said the Rotary Park project is a big commitment for the group, as they will have to raise about $25,000 and help with land clearing, grass seeding and other tasks.
Some may wonder what the purpose of the Rotary Club really is. Ipswich Rotarian Rev. Robert Ebersole explained: "We want to foster understanding and international cooperation."
With the dedication of the gazebo and announcement of Rotary Park, it looks like they are one step closer.
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