THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, April 13, 1995 TAG: 9504110133
SECTION: NORFOLK COMPASS PAGE: 05 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JOAN C. STANUS, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Short : 50 lines
Norfolk schoolchildren and their parents will don their Reeboks and Nikes en masse at Northside Park on April 22 to raise money for the Imagination Island playground.
In an Earth Day ``March for Parks'' walkathon, some 200 people are expected to raise as much as $1,000 for the playground, the brainchild of Norfolk school kids.
``We're hoping a lot of families from the community will get excited about participating and join us,'' said Robyn Knowles, a city recreation specialist who is helping to organize the event. ``We're also urging businesses to get involved.''
Imagination Island organizers had hoped to begin building the 160,000-square-foot playground this spring. But in March, still some $110,000 short of their $200,000 goal, they decided to postpone construction a year.
``The project will go on,'' said Diane Koffman, one of the coordinators. ``It just might take longer than we thought.''
All of the money raised at the Earth Day march, sponsored by the Parks and Recreation Department, will go toward the playground. Already, dozens of local businesses and residents have donated about $90,000 toward the project. Many people have volunteered to help construct it.
The April 22 march will begin with a 9 a.m. rally at Northside Park, just off Tidewater Drive. At 10 a.m., marchers will begin their walk by circling the park along a 1.3-mile course. For more experienced walkers, a 2.5-mile route will be available. At noon, a free picnic lunch of sandwiches, fruit and Gatoraid will be served to the walkers.
Although this march benefits only Imagination Island, the Norfolk event is part of a nationwide movement to raise awareness and funding for America's national, state, regional and local parks. Hundreds of ``March for Parks'' events, sponsored by the National Parks and Conservation Association, are planned April 22. All funds raised by the events will remain with local organizing groups. MEMO: Anyone who wants to participate or sponsor an Imagination Island
component can contact Knowles at 441-2149.
ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by TAMARA VONINSKI
Harry Harrington works on a sign that will mark Imagination Island.
by CNB