I must apologize for the tardiness of this Independence Day Parade update. As you can no doubt see in the pictures below the Bussey Playground Committee entered a truck and trailer into the city’s annual Independence Day Parade. As you can see Robb and Stephanie Sterner did a great job dressing their truck up to highlight the effort that we have undertaken. During the parade the Committee unveiled a sign to keep members of the community apprised of our monetary progress.

Several members of the committee chose to walk the parade route handing out flyers designed to show the community that we were indeed serious about our mission. The members recruited friends and family to help pass the flyers to the citizens eagerly lining the street. I would call our Independence Day efforts a success. Even though we did not collect much in the way of monetary donations we have raised the public’s awareness of this project. We have generated an interest in the public that can be measured in more than just monetary value, but also volunteer hours.

July 14 Update Phase 1

Just a few short months ago the playground committee was formed with the intent of rehabilitating and modernizing the City of Bussey's playground equipment. The progress accomplished in the ensuing months has been nothing short of monumental. We have worked hard to secure funding and labor for the enormous project that we are undertaking. As the days roll by Phase 1 of the project rapidly nears completion.

Phase 1 of this project consists primarily of replacing the current equipment at Bussey's south park with more modern equipment. This endeavor received a huge boost when the committee was able to secure the City Council's approval of $15,000 to be applied toward our goal. Because of this we were able to order the first piece of equipment in the closing weeks of June. This purchase included not just the equipment but also the surfacing material to be placed under the equipment. We have already recieved the surfacing material with the structure being delivered sometime in the next week.

As the end of Phase 1 draws near we will have a need for volunteers to help install the equipment. At this time our scheduled installation date is August 8th beginning at 8 AM. If you can help us in this project please contact City Clerk Rachel Reed at the number to the right asking to be placed on the volunteer list. And please remember that even though Phase 1 nears completion we will still need any and all financial and labor assistance that we can get. The completion of Phase 1 will not signal the end of our project, just a transition of focus.