Saving Lodi parks, one donation at a time
Local church raising $112,000 to fund repairs of English Oaks Park after defeat of Measure R
Looking to make a difference in the community, the English Oaks Seventh Day Adventist Church has kicked off fundraising efforts to raise $112,000 to replace playground equipment at English Oaks Park in south Lodi.
Pastor Bob Mason said he and his congregation are focusing more on what they can do for the community after realizing that being good neighbors to the people around them hasn’t been a high priority.
“We call it brightening our corner,” Mason said. “We want that to be our way of life from here on out, that we’re engaged with the people around us, so that we add value to this neighborhood by being here.”
Mason said he saw an opportunity for the church to make a difference after reading a newspaper article about the failure of Measure R, a local sales tax measure that would have funded parks repairs in Lodi.
“I saw the quote in there from (Lodi Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Director) Jeff Hood saying that they’re probably going to have to take some play structures out of the parks that needed maintenance,” Mason said.
“I’ve been taking my kids over to that park (English Oaks), and I was acquainted with the disrepair of that particular play structure. And I said to myself ‘Oh no, that one is probably going to be on the list.’ And then I said to myself, ‘Oh good, maybe we can do something about it.’”
Hood said that the community pitching in to help fund improvements could become more common since Measure R didn’t pass.
“We have a lot of playgrounds that need replacing and English Oaks is one of them,” Hood said. “Whether it’s English Oaks or whether it’s another park, we’re really going to have to rely on community fundraising and groups such as English Oaks Church to lead the effort.”
According to Hood, the English Oaks playground is nearly 30 years old and replacement parts are no longer available. The equipment is deteriorating and the rubberized coating has been worn off in many sections.
Hood is hoping that the fundraising effort for English Oaks Park will raise awareness of the need to replace playgrounds and bring attention to the Lodi Community Foundation, where people can make donations to specific park projects or just a general donation.
He is also hoping it will create awareness about what individuals can do for the city’s parks.
Mason said the goal is to replace the playground structure by mid- to late-spring. Mason has hit the pavement, reaching out to others in the community to help his church family with their fundraising efforts. Church members plan to go door to door to invite residents to a neighborhood meeting at the church to get more people involved with the effort.
The Lodi Community Foundation has agreed to oversee the funds so that all contributions go into an account specifically set aside for repairs at the park.
Mason said he looks forward to connecting with the church’s neighbors.
“The more connected people are in neighborhoods the safer things are because people are looking out for each other,” Mason said.
Hood said if the fundraiser is a success, they will be able to invest in new walkways and upgrades to make the playground more usable.