By Claudia Loucks
Geneseo Current
John DuBois, left, president and CEO of Central Bank, Geneseo; Julia McAvoy, Geneseo Park District board member; Andy Thurman, executive director of the Geneseo Park District; Mark Breeden, board member of the Frances G. & Betty J. Miller Foundation; and Tyler Mackey, vice president-trust officer at Central Bank, are photographed at the climbing boulder added recently to the playground area at the Geneseo Park District Athletic Field.
The playground is a somewhat hidden treasure at the Geneseo Park District Athletic Field, located to the rear of the building on the grounds. The playground equipment and installation was done in 2022 with $80,000 in funds received from the Geneseo Foundation. The area also features an Outdoor Classroom made possible with $10,000 in funds from the Charles Davis Trust.
Recently, with contributions of $28,000 from the Frances G. & Betty J. Miller, $10,000, the Charles Davis Trust and the Geneseo Park District Foundation, the Park district was able to install two additional benches, picnic table additional lighting and a climbing boulder with safety surface padding and turf at the Athletic Field.
Andy Thurman, executive director of the Geneseo Park District, commented that the “playground, outdoor classroom and now climbing boulder have been huge assets to our Day Camp program. This gives the children a playground onsite and something for kids to do during Youth Football games as well.”
“We waited a couple of years to see the need for tables and benches and these newly –installed features are great for families eating a snack or taking a break while the children play,” he added. “The complete safety surface surrounding the playground makes it ADA compliant.
Thurman said the sidewalk surrounding the playground and classroom, as well as the adjacent track, gives parents or caregivers the ability to walk while the children play…”This play area at the Athletic Field provides the Park District’s first playground and is a great place for children to use in this area of town.”