La Mesa fundraiser for park shade structures

The La Mesa Park & Recreation Foundation will host its seventh annual La Mesa Rocks Fundraiser on Saturday to raise money to build more shade structures in city parks.

The fundraiser will be held from 6 to 10 p.m. at the Allen Airways Flying Museum at Gillespie Field in El Cajon, at 2020 N. Marshall Ave. The event will include live music from The Farmers and The Rolf Olsen Jazz Quartet, as well as dinner and drinks.

Executive Director Misty Thompson said that there will be a silent auction during the event where guests can bid on a variety of items, including a trip to Palm Springs, a behind-the-scenes tour of an Edco trash truck, a homemade dinner at the fire station and a one night stay at Lions, Tigers and Bears animal sanctuary in Alpine.

All of the money raised during this year’s fundraiser will go toward building more shade structures in La Mesa parks to provide respite from the heat on sunny days.

The La Mesa Park & Recreation Foundation is a nonprofit raising money to improve the city’s parks. The organization has raised money to build new playgrounds, serves as a sponsor for the La Mesa Downtown District sign, and funded, built and opened a community garden at MacArthur Park.

“Our parks are the heart of our community, and this fundraiser plays a crucial role in ensuring they continue to thrive,” board President Laurie MacDonald said in an email.

Tickets can be purchased at lamesaparks.org for $100 each, but attendees can save $25 by using the code Save25. Fundraiser attendees must be 21 and older.

To learn more about the La Mesa Park & Recreation Foundation, visit the nonprofit’s website or email friends@lamesaparks.org.