Thanks to the support of our community, the active fundraising is complete! Contact Tricia Wiltshire with questions: [email protected]
December 10, 2024 County Park Friends Raises over $1 Million For Treasure Cove With Support of Community
County Park Friends is pleased to announce over one million dollars in private funding has been raised for Treasure Cove at Jade Street Park. Since September 2023 the City of Capitola and County Park Friends have been working in a public-private partnership to make the city’s first-fully inclusive playground a reality. The successful completion of the private fundraising campaign is due to massive community support for creating a place all children can play together without the barriers those with disabilities often experience at typical playgrounds. “I am thrilled, but not surprised, by our community’s generosity and enthusiasm for Treasure Cove Playground, and by the support and hard work of County Park Friends. This project, specifically designed to be welcoming to all, will truly be a Capitola treasure for generations to come,” said Capitola Mayor Kristen Brown. The Monterey Peninsula Foundation, host of the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am and PURE Insurance Championship Impacting First Tee, was a key anchor in the campaign by issuing a $250,000 matching grant challenge which members of the community quickly rallied to meet. Dan Haifley, the community lead volunteer said, “Our team is grateful to all the donors and volunteers who’ve laid the foundation for Treasure Cove. Their generosity will bring much needed joy and laughter into the lives of countless children who’ll get to have a safe place to play alongside their peers. Its true impact will be immeasurable and priceless.” Community fundraisers over the past 18 months included the Capitola-Aptos Rotary Club’s 2024 Dinner and Auction, Kentucky Derby Party, and Pickleball tournament, the Santa Cruz Sunrise Rotary Club’s annual bike ride, the Boardwalk Chili cookoff, the Surf City Kiwanis annual crab feed, Santa Cruz Gives 2023, and a dinner at Britannia Arms in Capitola. “Our members are delighted to be part of Treasure Cove, a place where the community can come together and have fun,” said Lowry Fenton, Capitola-Aptos Rotary 2024 President. Funding also directly came from private community members in honor of loved ones. Rich Hamlin wished to donate in memory of his wife, Suzi, who passed away while on vacation in 2023 after being hit by a drunk driver. Harold Brockman and Cynthia Smith fulfilled Harold’s dream to honor his first wife, Patricia, who passed away 28 years ago. Notable foundation support for the project included Kaiser Permanente, donor advisors at the Community Foundation Santa Cruz County, and the Soquel Union Elementary School District. “County Park Friends is humbled by the breadth of support from our community to make Treasure Cove a reality. This is the type of community building project our organization loves to do and it's only possible because everyone steps up to play their part and make it happen,” said Mariah Roberts, Executive Director of County Park Friends. The City of Capitola plans to secure any remaining necessary funding by early spring, 2025, and to bid the project that fall. Groundbreaking could be celebrated as soon as winter 2025.
A new playground in a beloved park Every child, regardless of their ability, deserves a place to play with others. One out of every ten children has a disability. Treasure Cove will be a play environment for children with and without disabilities to foster compassion, acceptance, connectedness and joy.
Design The plans for a new, custom-designed playground, "Treasure Cove at Jade Street Park" were created by Verde Designs based on input from the community to ensure the playground will be designed for all. They include a marine and shoreline theme with a Climb and Slide Zone, Swing and Sway Zone, Tot Zone, Sensory Zone, and Game Zone. Throughout the design, universally accessible equipment such as swings, a wheelchair-accessible merry-go-round, spinners, slides, and a cozy dome are planned. The elements will be placed over colorful rubberized surfacing throughout to provide an inclusive, easy to access environment for individuals with physical disabilities. Location The mid-county location of Jade Street Park will allow easy access for families from all parts of the county, is close to medical centers, pediatric therapy offices, affordable housing and schools for children with autism. Separately and concurrently, the City of Capitola is also in the process of renovating the highly utilized co-located community center, and enhancing access to the playground by improving sidewalks connecting the playground area to the existing ADA parking area.
A Public Private Partnership The City of Capitola and County Park Friends are working together in a public-private partnership to find the funding needed to create the Jade Street Park playground. In addition to $475,000 the city has already set aside for the project, County Park Friends has the goal of raising $1 Million in private funding from the community.
Treasure Cove at Jade Street Park Supporters Donors supporting at $1000 or more through 12/27/2024 Monterey Peninsula Foundation, host of the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am and PURE Insurance Championship Impacting First Tee _______ Capitola-Aptos Rotary Club Foundation _______ The Applewood Fund, Cindy and Harold Brockman, Rich Hamlin, The Rotary Club of Santa Cruz Sunrise _______ Bud & Rebecca Colligan, Community Foundation Santa Cruz County, Kaiser Permanente, Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk + 2024 Chili Cook Off, District 1 Santa Cruz County Supervisor Manu Koenig, Santa Cruz Gives 2023 Supporters, Robert & Carol Simpkins Family Fund, Soquel Union Elementary School District, Sunlight Giving ______ Bay Federal Credit Union, Christie's International Real Estate Sereno, Doug and Diane Deaver, Eckhardt Chandler Fund, Peter & Heidy Kellison, Rudolph F. Monte Foundation, Edward Newman Family Charitable Fund, Jack O'Neill, Pacific Gas and Electric Company, Joe & Cheryl Pruss, Bill & Brigid Simpkins Family Fund ______ Michael & Jean Beebe, Britannia Arms Capitola, California Premier Restoration, DeCamara Management, Dilma & Arthur Dover, GBG Construction, Go Green Roof Company, GOAT Santa Cruz, LLC, Lifespan, Bridget O'Neill, Omega Nu Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz Supported Living - Joe Shimpfky, Watsonville Grading and Excavation ______ 1st Capital Bank, Paul Ahern, Tina Andreatta, Megan Archer - Discover Real Estate, Aspromonte Hotels, LLC, Katie "Foof" Buich, Cabrillo College, Capitola Kids Dentistry, Capitola Mall, Capitola Public Safety and Community Service Foundation, County Park Friends Board - 2023, Lowry Fenton & Gail Greely, First Woman Mayor in Capitola, Carol Fuller, Paula Gomez, Jamie, Amy, and Bo Goldstein, Pamela Goodman, Graniterock, Ariel & Steve Gray, Michelle Haifley, Rebecca & Dan Haifley, Joe and Marcella Hall, Hutchinson & Bloodgood LLP, The Jensen/Haggery Family, Gerald Kay in honor of Julia Haifley, Land Trust of Santa Cruz County, Cynthia Mathews, Kelly & Maria Nesheim, Tony Nethercutt & Carrie Brose, O'Neill Surf Shop, Lisa & Tim O'Neill, Patrick O'Neill & Amber Jones, Becky Peters in Memory of Ed Kendig, Laurina Ramadan, J. Miles and Rosanne Reiter Family Foundation, Repass-Rodgers Fund for the Environment, Riccabona and McGee LLP, Carolyn & Oscar Rivera in Honor of the Rivera and Brooks Family, Santa Cruz County Bank, Santa Cruz Sunrise Rotary Club, Santa Cruz Warriors, Shared Adventures, Elin Sigmundson-Clarke, The Snelling Family, Robert Stephens, Sheree Storm & Troy Boone, Surf City Kiwanis Club, Julie Thiebault, Derek & Tricia Timm, The Village, Verde Design, Wedeen Hammer Locatelli Group At Morgan Stanley, Hung Wei - 2023-2024 Rotary District 5170 Governor ______ Marty Ackerman, Michael & Kalena Allard, Joy & Renee Bux, Andy Carman, Vicki Carr, Sandra Cohen, Dennis Collins, County Park Friends Staff, Robert Crittenden & Libby Sinclair, Kelly Cuffe, Robert & Kay Dashner,Kimberly De Serpa, Erica Donnelly-Greenan, Julie Edwards in honor of Yvette Brooks, Nicole & Chris Coburn, Kirsten Commons & Stephen Burt, Laurie Egan, Peter Emanuel, In loving memory of Janet Falkenstine, Lani Faulkner, Rose Filicetti, Lisa Fluitt, Fred Fontanilla, Amie & Karl Forest, The Gasta Steres Family, The Goldenkranz Family, Phyl Greenleaf, Jane & Pharis Harvey, Rusten Hogness & Donna Haraway, Gustavo Indarose, Sue G. Jackson, Dawn Jarvis, Aniko Kannas, Bonnie Keet, Meredith Keet - Ethos, Reed Kuratomi DDS, Mark Mahacek, Adriel McCluer, Barbara Meister & Tim Sylvester, Betty L. Mello, Amanda Jackson Miller & Andy Miller, Rose K Murphy & Joe Gallagher, Late for Supper, Paula Marcus, Kim Namba, Molly & Mickey Ording, David & Deena Pais, Alexander Pedersen, Pfotenhauer Wilshusen Family, Stephen Pierce, Jonathan Pilch, Robert & Nancy Potts, Gary & Carolyn Pybas, Juliana Rebagliati, Erin Reintjes In Honor of Renaissance High School ELA, Renee Roberts, Margaret & Derek Rosa in Honor of the Kids of Santa Cruz County, William & Mellisa Roberts, Bill & Carol Rosenoff, Jackie Russo, Rosemary Sarka, Heloise Schaser, Karen Scott & Keith Gudger, Jacqueline & Michael Sedgwick, Richard Seibert in Memory of Jamie Garfield, Betty and Hank Sprouse, Michael & Alexa Termini, Shmuel Thaler and Kathy Cytron, The Village Giving Circle, Pirooz & Nazanin Tooyserkani, Nancy Trevino, Randy Uang, Steve & Dorothy Vidlock, Patricia B. Ward, Martine Watkins, Michael & Anne Watkins, Tricia Wiltshire & Family, Michele & Gordon van Zuiden, Rosemary Levy Zumwalt
Treasure Cove Playground Equipment Sponsors Dennis and Sidney Alegre - Dolphin Whimsy Rider Bay Federal Credit Union - Game Table Doug and Diane Deaver - Volta Spinner First 5 Santa Cruz County - Communication Board Les and Mary Forster in Honor of FORGE: Friends of Rick Gaukel Everywhere - Rock Climbers The McBroom Family - Rubberball Climbers
Donors who contribute $1,000 or more will also be recognized in the donor recognition area at the playground. Please contact Tricia Wiltshire at [email protected] for any corrections to donor recognition. Donor recognition current to 12/27/2024.