By Andrea McBride
Staff Writer
Caro City Mayor Dick Pouliot cuts the ribbon Monday afternoon at the official ribbon cutting ceremony for the new Bieth Park playground.
CARO — After months of planning and fundraising, the new Bieth Park playground is complete and being broken in by several area children.
Forty-nine volunteers participated in the community build of the agriculture-themed playground and also helped paint the recreation barn on June 13.
Caro City Mayor Dick Pouliot said every volunteer worked hard from the time they arrived until the project was finished at 7:30 p.m.
Pouliot said Tom Striffler, who was the main drive behind fundraising, and City Manager Jared Olson were important individuals “from concept to completion.” He also said the enthusiasm of city residents and even the cooperative weather made the project successful.
“We’ve just had a great experience this entire project and it’s been a positive one for the community,” Pouliot said. “I dream of using it as a springboard for other enhancements to Bieth Park and other recreation areas like Chippewa Landing.”
Twenty-four separate entities donated a total of $56,400 to the project, which includes two benches and a welcome donor recognition sign that will be put in place by the Gleaners.
The final cost for the project was $107,200, and donations account for about 53 percent of that cost.
“In the 20 some years that I have been on the council, I can’t remember a project that brought together so many individuals and so many different contributions to one positive outcome,” Pouliot said, noting that he visited the playground on a Friday night and counted 25 people utilizing it.
Ceremony attendees included Pouliot, Olson, Striffler, City Council Members Charlotte Kish and Mike Henry, City Clerk/Treasurer Karen Snider, Cindy Schlaud and Brenda Kretzschmer from Caro Rotary Club, Erin Schmandt from Caro Rotary Club and Caro Library and her son Qwilleran Schmandt, County Clerk Jodi Fetting, Rose Putnam of Chemical Bank, Caro Police Chief Brian Newcomb, Tim Sheffer of playground equpiment company Penchura LLC, Mark Kish, Delores Tait, Jim McLoskey and Terri Newcomb.
Department of Public Works Superintendent Charlie Sundblad was not present at the ceremony, but Olson said he was a crucial part of the building and planning process for the playground.