Ojai Rotary-West Rotary Park groundbreaking page

Community Park

Official Ground Breaking Ceremony

July 17th, 2004

Ojai Mayor Sue Horgan
and
Rotary-West President Mike Caldwell presided.

"Although this is a very major effort for local Rotary members, and we are the catalyst for making it happen at all, the City of Ojai, together with civic-minded individuals, businesses, schools, and community groups are partners with us in building and maintaining this prominent park.

That is why it is appropriate to be called Rotary Community Park. We look forward to your favorable response with confidence and anticipation.

Thanks to your generous responses, construction has begun. Residents of the Ojai Valley and visitors alike will soon enjoy this beautiful enhancement to our fair city."

--Richard McArthur,
President 2003 - 2004

Members of Rotary-West, their friends and neighbors, and city officials turned out for the start of Community Park.
Member Les Gardner explains what Rotary is, and what Rotary-West is doing, to onlookers. The theme of "Lend a Hand" was chosen because we need all the helping hands we can get.
Rotary-West members Jim Halverson, Jane McClenahan and Paul Thomas were some of those who answered questions, passed out brochures, and enlisted aid for this civic project.
The centerpiece for the new park will be a sculpture of a horse in full gallop. Here, the assembled templates are loaded onto a trailer for transportation from the artist's studios to the ceremony, and from there to the metal works for fabrication.
After setting up the tents and microphones, members Phil Adams, Howard Smith, Ross Atkinson, Richard Haas and Dennis Jones watched the crowds arrive.
The park borders an equestrian trail, and will have facilities for watering horses. Here, a visitor watches the ceremonies from a high perch.