Burton Community Park Is Up for Sale (Well, Sort Of)

The Friends of Burton Community Park has stepped up its campaign to upgrade the park's grounds and replace its aging play structure with a new "Park for Sale Challenge" to Huntington Woods residents.

The fundraising challenge will allow individuals, businesses or teams to claim elements of the new park – such as benches, trees or monkey bars – by July 31 and then raise the money to buy them.

"We are essentially selling pieces of the new park," FOBCP organizer Susan Witus said. "Whatever elements we invest in is what we'll have. We need your help to get it done."
 
She spoke during the Fourth of July festivities at Scotia Park after receiving a $65,000 check from the Huntington Woods Men's Club to help replace the park's aging, splintering play structure. The Men's Club voted to make the park project the beneficiary of its annual Service Auction, which was held March 23 at the Recreation Center.

The $65,000 donation, in addition to nearly $90,000 raised during the past three years, puts the fundraising campaign on track to meet its goal of $440,000.

The team, business or individual who makes the largest donation in the "Park for Sale Challenge" will receive a grand prize of $1,000, said Witus, who added Stephen Mendelson's family kicked off the competition with a $5,000 donation.

Take the challenge

• E-mail Elysa White at elysawhite@yahoo.com for a complete list of available elements and prices; elements must be claimed by July 31.
• Form a team on crowdrise.com/ParkForSale2013.
• Raise or donate the money.
• Track your progress on the crowdrise leaderboard.