‘Light Up Monroe’ contest raises money for new playground
MONROE — The Monroe Playground Foundation has launched “Light Up Monroe,” and held a drivein visit with Santa Claus at the North Pole to raise money for revitalizing a playground.
“Light Up Monroe” is the town’s first decorating contest that concludes on Sunday.
The foundation recruited 46 residents to decorate their homes, many going above and beyond, according to foundation Treasurer Michael Ganino. Each participant donated $25 to the cause as admission to the contest.
A panel of 25 judges — community leaders, volunteers and partners — will submit their votes online. Houses are being judged based on how well their decorations represent one of the five categories, such as Santa’s favorite or the People’s Choice Award. The foundation created an interactive map with street routes for residents to see each home and a portal to cast votes for the people’s choice award.
Lori Knouse, 52, decided to go all out decorating her home on Moose Hill Road.
“This year, because it’s been such a lousy year for everybody, we kind of went a little bit over and above. We bought close to 25 new inflatable blowups ... and we just did some different things we don’t normally do,” she said. “Pretty much the response has been really really positive.”
Knouse is excited to see how the contest pans out.
The event concludes with a virtual ceremony announcing the winners on Sunday. Ganino is hoping local businesses will sponsor prizes, like gift cards. He envisions a larger prize for the overall winner, a personal picnic where the winner can invite up to 50 people for a day at the park and food provided by the foundation. He says this idea is contingent on the pandemic.
“This isn’t a typical fundraiser. This is more to bring awareness and a little happiness to some of the things we’re trying to do, especially around the holidays,” Ganino said. “I think it’s going to be a big success and we’re hoping to bring the entire town together to create some added joy for 2020.”
The foundation also held a drive-in visit with Santa and Ms. Claus last weekend at Great Hollow Lake. Santa and Ms. Claus were stationed in a “North Pole tent,” greeting families driving through.
All of the proceeds from both fundraisers will go toward the foundation’s plan to rebuild the wooden playground known as “Kid’s Kreation,” at Wolf Park, Ganino said.
Monroe Playground Foundation began fundraising for the project almost two and a half years ago. The foundation has since raised approximately $125,000 — just enough to cover the price of a new surface — making a small dent in its $400,000 goal.
“We wanted to make a playground that is accessible to all the kids in Monroe regardless of the challenges they may have,” Ganino said. “We have a little ways to go. We’re hoping that in 2021, potentially 2022, we’ll have enough funds raised to build the playground.”
The new playground — designed by professionals and students at Monroe elementary schools — will be called the Wolfe’s Den Playground, and rebuilt by community volunteers as an accessible space where all children can play together, according to Ganino.
Nearly 2,000 volunteers pitched in for the original playground build and Ganino hopes there will be a similar turnout when it’s time to construct the new one.
“We’re hoping the COVID will be behind us one day and then we’ll be ready with the funding and the town will be ready with the volunteers,” Ganino said.
“It’s a good investment and we think it’s well worth the efforts but we have a little bit to go,” he added.