The Hampshire Township Park District Foundation has slated a fundraiser in order to raise money for a new, firetruck-themed playground at Ralph Seyller Memorial Park, 400 East Jefferson Avenue.
Fundraising efforts for the playground equipment began in May 2015, and have included a community garage sale in August and a Yankee Candle sale.
“To date, we have raised $9,100,” said Laura Schraw, Hampshire Township Park District executive director.
The proposed playground equipment would cost approximately $15,000 and provide a play area for 20 to 30 children ages 2 to 5. It would be located on the east side of the park near the west parking lot of Little People Playtime Preschool.
According to the foundation, funds raised beyond the $15,000 could be used for concrete curbing and mulch.
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Additional funds could also go toward the Hampshire Fire Protection District firefighters’ memorial that is planned by the sitting area of the playground. The fire protection district is celebrating its 85th anniversary this year.
The fundraiser will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. on Saturday, April 9, in the park district building, 390 South Avenue. It will include both a dinner and drawdown.
Tickets for the dinner cost $5 each.
Drawdown tickets cost $25 each and are available at the park district building and the preschool. A total of 300 tickets will be sold and later drawn one at a time. Winners need not be present to win.
Every tenth ticket drawn wins $25. The 100th and 200th tickets drawn will give two ticket holders $100 apiece. The ticket holders of the 298th and 299th tickets will each receive $200. The grand prize is $1,500.
Schraw said that the fundraiser will include a silent auction. Donations for the auction are welcome.
The Hampshire branch of Resource Bank, 135 West Oak Knoll Drive (Illinois 72), donated a model of the 1859 one-room Eakin School House to the park district. The actual school house was moved from Rutland Township and attached to the bank where it now serves as a community room.
The model was part of the annual Hampshire Coon Creek Country Days parade this summer. The model will be raffled at the fundraiser.
A cookbook created by the preschool will be sold at the fundraiser. It will include recipes from students and teachers along with student artwork.
In addition to the fundraiser, Schraw said the park district is looking forward to a number of upcoming events.
The third annual Colour Me Lucky 5k run is scheduled for 10 a.m. on Saturday, March 12, at Seyller Park. Registration until March 11 is $20 for residents and $25 for non-residents. Day of the race registration fee is $30 for residents and $35 for non-residents.
During the race, runners can choose whether or not they want to be spritzed with colored powder at different color stations along the route.
Race check-in begins at 9 a.m. All runners will receive a wristband. Runners 21 years and older will receive a ticket for one free beer, while runners under the age of 21 will receive Gatorade. The Pirate Radio band will perform pop, rock, dance and disco songs at Seyller Park after the race.
A free Easter egg hunt, sponsored by the Ella Johnson Memorial Public Library, is scheduled for 10 a.m. on Saturday, March 19, at Seyller Park. The Easter bunny will be available for pictures with the Easter egg hunters.
The Easter bunny will also climb aboard the Hampshire fire truck and visit children at their homes in Hampshire Township. The fee of $11 for the first child and $7 for each additional child will include a Polaroid picture with the bunny. The registration deadline for a bunny visit is Friday, March 11.
For more information, contact the park district at 847-683-2690 or go to www.hampshireparkdistrict.org.
Denise Moran is a freelance reporter.