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Linwood Park Project Is A Team Effort

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By JOYCE McKENZIE

The Tampa Tribune

Published: June 7, 2008

TEMPLE TERRACE - Former Mayor George Fee is willing to do whatever it takes to help improve the quality of life for residents of the city he treasures.

And like so many others in the community, his good friend Perry Jacobsen knows it.

It was almost a given, then, when Jacobsen, a Temple Terrace Rotarian, recently asked Fee to contribute to the club's fundraising efforts to help renovate the rundown Linwood Park at 62nd Street and 113th Avenue.

"When that 'mean guy' Jacobsen approached me, I gave a $1,000 donation, and I'm going to get a couple of other people to do the same," said Fee, noting the rotten condition of the park's wooden playground and exercise equipment that was built by the developer of Theresa Arbor, an adjacent subdivision. "It's just no place for little kids to play."

The Temple Terrace Rotary Club has raised more than $20,000 toward its goal of $25,000 to purchase new equipment for 10 exercise stations that will consist of a leg press, a sit-up board, strength and stretch bars and other weightlifting apparatuses.

James Chambers, the city's director of leisure services, said the city has committed $40,000 to the project, money that will be used to purchase a children's jungle gym, water fountain, picnic tables and benches. The city also plans to create a one-eighth-mile walking/running track around the park's perimeter, enclose the park with a fence and maintain its grounds.

"What's really cool is that it's a community project in partnership with the city," said Jacobsen, who together with his wife, Liz, has donated $1,000 to the project.

Cheri Donohue, executive director of the Greater Temple Terrace Chamber of Commerce, endorses the Rotary Club's alliance with the city.

"I think everybody today is looking at health issues and realizing that healthy employees and neighbors make for a much better community," she said. "Rotary is such a well-known charitable organization globally, but it's nice to know they are also doing things in their own backyard."
Temple Terrace Rotarian and architect Jim Ruyle has contributed $2,500 in architectural services toward the endeavor, a donation that distinguishes him as a gold medal sponsor.

The Temple Terrace Woman's Club, Temple Terrace Rotary Club, Bart Azzarelli Jr., Pat and Bob Forsythe and former Temple Terrace Rotarian Ed Hanna also have given $1,000, an amount that classifies them as silver medal sponsors.

"I've been a resident of Temple Terrace for 30 years, and anything that improves the appearance of Temple Terrace I'm in favor of," Hanna said.

Bronze medal sponsors, who have committed $500 to the project, include Jose and Ana Bustamante, Joe and Lisa Anderson, Nick and Hazel Hall, Doug and Nancy Winton, Patricia Noverr, Matt and Carmela Otto, Richard and Rebekah Schrot, Russell and Cynthia Varney and Temple Terrace Rotary President Tom Wagner and his wife, Vicki.

"We contributed to it not only to support our Rotary Club but because we think it's an important chance to work with the city government instead of waiting for them to do it," said Wagner, who noted that he would like to see other area clubs follow suit. "We've been really encouraged to see how the community in Temple Terrace is also giving to the project."

Bustamante said his family plans to use the park regularly when its renovation is complete. He also believes it will attract many other area residents who have been put off by its shabby appearance.

"What really impresses me is that all the money that has been raised is by people who live in Temple Terrace," he said.

Jacobsen concurred.

"There is a certain buzz going on in the community about it."

TO HELP

To contribute to the Linwood Park renovation, make checks payable to the Temple Terrace Rotary Foundation Linwood Park Project and send to P.O. Box 16901, Temple Terrace FL 33617. For details, call Perry Jacobsen at (813) 899-1747.

Reporter Joyce McKenzie can be reached at (813) 865-4849 or jmckenzie@tampatrib.com.

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