White Rock firefighters have collected another $8,000 towards the cost of an all-abilities playground in the city.
Firefighter Evan Bird said this week that the funds were raised Oct. 27, through the Halloween Howl dance held at Star of the Sea Hall. The evening featured White Rock-born reggae-rocker Daniel Wesley.
Bird described the event as “awesome… a good, intimate environment.”
“We ended up raising about $8,000 – for one little night, that’s pretty good,” he said.
Bird spearheaded the dance idea with colleague Bira Bhindra. It’s the latest in efforts to raise money for the park, which has also been supported by proceeds of recent princess parties hosted by Bird’s mother, Myra Merkal – including one held in August that raised $12,000.
Bird set his sights on an all-abilities park after the August 2010 loss of the playground in Semiahmoo Park. He used to take his daughters to play there, and said the value such a place has in a community is immeasurable.
Bird expected to present conceptual designs for the playground at a community forum hosted by the City of White Rock Wednesday (Nov. 7, after Peace Arch News’ press deadline) evening at the White Rock Community Centre.