Former Albany Elementary’s playground equipment has been given a new life at Kempton Community Center.
KCC was offered the playground equipment and volunteers recently removed the structure and set it up in the KCC’s playground, which was installed many decades ago, next to the tennis courts and the newly dedicated Luella Dotterer Music Pavilion.
“Enthused children from the community were testing it instantly,” said Tom Kerr of Kempton Community Center. “KCC’s volunteers’ juices were now flowing.”
New seats for the swings – including one that’s ADA-compliant for disabled children – plus a swinging two-person bench, a tire swing, and refurbished see-saws were added. A roofed sandbox was completed, as well as a split-rail fence around the playground donated by Lowe’s and installed by their employees.
“But the piece de resistance is the 26-foot sailboat Irish Wake sailing under the American flag and the flag of the Kempton Yacht Club. Yes, there is such an organization,” said Kerr.
The retired vessel was donated by John Moriarty and John Burkit and installed by John and several volunteers.
“Dockage was added around the craft to make it safe for children – and perhaps an adult or two – to walk safely onboard the boat,” he said.
The Kempton Community Center playground is open to the public any time, as well as during center events.
“The vastly improved playground complements other improvements to the center’s amenities,” he said.
Improvements include a new dug-out and an electronic scoreboard at the softball field, and a completely new, regulation Little League baseball field, which has seen its first games played on it this season.
Kerr said plans to preserve the historic Stump/Geisinger barn on the property is the next big project for KCC.
“The organization is planning for many community events in the beautiful 19th century structure, after the roof is replaced,” he said.
Fundraising efforts were launched at KCC’s 2nd Annual SHINDIG on May 21, which featured many family-friendly activities including music, food, games, local art, and more, and, of course, the playground.
Unable to name all of the volunteers who have been working on the “myriad of projects at the center,” Kerr said, “No one has put more thought, time, energy, effort, and resources to making the center what it is today than Dennis Reiss, the president of the KCC board.”
Funding for everything the center has accomplished has come from fundraising events, facility rental fees, donations, and membership fees. Kerr said that principal among the fundraising events are the Kempton Spring Sale in March, the SHINDIG in May, and the Kempton Power Pulls in June, although there are several smaller events, as well.
“Wonderful things are happening at the Kempton Community Center, and the community is now beginning to appreciate what a fine recreation facility it has,” said Kerr.
For more information about Kempton Community Center and upcoming events, visit on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Kempton-Community-Center-700764246715912/.
