Help group rennovate Keyport's parks one at a time Do you ever wish you had a clean, safe, well-maintained park that you could enjoy with your children right in your own neighborhood? Do you find yourself driving out of town in search of an enjoyable, attractive place for your kids to play? Keyport is unmatched in the beauty of its waterfront, its people, and its culture of family and community. However, many of our parks and open spaces have fallen into neglect and disrepair. If you share our belief that the quality of our families and neighborhoods should be reflected in the quality of our parks and open spaces, you will want to support Open Hearts for Keyport Parks. Over the last few months, members of the Browns Point community have met with the Borough Council and the recreation committee to launch a grassroots park renovation project. Our mission is to renovate Keyport's parks one at a time through a combination of fundraising, grants, and volunteerism. In the small town of Keyport, we are fortunate to have so many neighborhood playgrounds. Currently however, many of our playgrounds are outdated or dilapidated, posing significant safety problems to our children. Metal equipment and undermaintained sand or dirt surfaces, for example, no longer meet government standards for playground safety. The poor physical and aesthetic condition of our parks has led to the under utilization of these valuable open spaces. We envision a greener future for our children by looking for new ways to preserve and enhance our environment. The following goals are central to our mission: • Therese Street Park - in the Browns Point section of Keyport - will be our first park renovation project. Upgrades to this park will include state-of-the-art play structures and swings, maintenance-free playground resurfacing, perimeter trees and landscaping, and seating areas. • Upon completion of the Therese Street Park renovation, fundraising efforts will be continued for the renovation of Keyport's other parks and playgrounds. • Utilization of our renovated parks for family-oriented cultural arts and education events such as children's concerts, storytelling, arts and crafts, bay/waterfront preservation, anti-littering campaigns, and annual park cleanup/beautification days. Contract Jennifer Flynn, chairwoman for Open Hearts for Keyport Parks, to get involved. The 2007 events calendar is being planned now and your help and support are welcome. Jennifer Flynn Chairwoman Open Hearts for Keyport Parks