Groundbreaking
September 10, 2004

The regular Friday meeting of the Catalina Rotary Club was moved to Jacobs Park in order to perform the groundbreaking ceremonies for the Milagro Playground, the club's Centennial Project. Located to the west off Fairview Avenue, Milagro Playground will be built inside Jacob's Park.

At 12:15 Catalina Rotary Club President Norm Rebenstorf rang the bell and officially called the meeting to order. All in attendance, including club members and local dignitaries sat in folding chairs under a temporary tent. In President Norm's opening statements, he reminded us that "freedom isn't free" and "freedom is for children."

In honor of this special event, the Color Guard from the 162nd Fighter Wing brought out the flag and we said the Pledge of Allegiance. Pat Sniezek provided our invocation and was followed by the new Director of Parks and Recreation, Fred Gray. Fred was delighted to be in attendance and part of the celebration especially since he was recently hired and only on the fourth day of his new job.

Mayor Bob Walkup next spoke to the crowd and related how he, as a boy growing up in Iowa, would have greatly enjoyed a park like Jacob's Park. Especially since the Diamondbacks had recently constructed a new little league baseball field, there was a new swimming pool, a new section for dogs was in the works and now, the addition of the Milagro Playground, in Jacobs Park.

Ward 3 Council Member Kathleen Dunbar addressed the crowd. She recounted the first phone call she had with Barbara Kiernan discussing ideas for the centennial project over a year and a half ago. Now, with much pride, she was delighted to be breaking ground.

Next up was Sharon Bronson, of the Pima County Board of Supervisors (District 3). After a few remarks she introduced Lonnie Davis who is the secretary of the Flowing Wells Neighborhood Association. He was representing the Association in the absence of their president and was very thankful for all the hard work everyone was doing on the project.

Finally, Bill DeVinney, president of the Miracle Manor Neighborhood Association said, "There's only two words you would like me to say, and they are 'In Conclusion.'" As everyone chuckled, he said he would be brief, as it was getting hot, and expressed his appreciation to everyone who was contributing to help improve the neighborhood and quality of life.

To wrap up the ceremonies, President Norm said that Milagro Playground really instituted the Four-Way Test of Rotary, that it was great to be able to help the helpless and that it was wonderful that government, private industry and Rotary could come together to make this happen. In addition he acknowledged past Rotary Presidents on who's "watch" the project started and named all those who contributed their time, resources and energy to the project.

The meeting was then closed and the both the dignitaries and the Milagro Playground Committee members went to have their picture taken with the ceremonial gold shovels.

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