PORT ANGELES — Janet Young and the Shane Park Playground Committee have sold 200 tickets for a special benefit dinner and dance Saturday.
The Shane Park Playground Pasta Bar Dinner & Dance will start at 6 p.m. with a social hour at the Elks Naval Lodge, 131 E. First St. Dinner will be served by “celebrity” waiters at 7 p.m.
The benefit will raise money for new playground equipment at Shane Park, which is on G Street between Sixth and Eighth streets.
Although tickets to the dinner are no longer on sale, those who want to attend the dance can buy a ticket for $10 at the door between 8 p.m. and 9 p.m., Young said.
New playground
Young and the city of Port Angeles envision a new playground at the West Port Angeles park that features several slides, climbing areas, swings and safety surfaces.
The cost of the Playcraft Systems equipment is about $130,000.
While the city has set aside $60,000 in its 2011 budget for the project, the remainder must be raised before equipment is purchased.
Young, president and treasurer of the Shane Park Playground Committee, hopes to raise a good chunk of that amount at Saturday’s dinner, dance and auction.
“We’re getting everything in place,” Young said.
“It’s going to be a lot of fun. A lot of fun.”
Young is the mother of Shane Fowler, who died at the age of 9 after a construction mishap when the park was being built in 1973.
Shane Park is named for Shane Fowler.
Raffle prizes at the benefit include a raft trip, a fishing trip and dinner at the Space Needle.
Celebrity waiters
The celebrity waiters are Port Angeles City Manager Kent Myers; City Council members Max Mania, Cherie Kidd and Don Perry; Parks and Streets Superintendent Corey Delikat; and Port Angeles School District Superintendent Jane Pryne.
Young said she was surprised 200 tickets were sold. She thanked the community for the outpouring of support.
Young said she is “very optimistic” that the committee will raise the money it needs for the playground.
Donations, with checks made out to the Kiwanis Club, can be mailed to Shane Park Playground, P.O. Box 1064, Port Angeles, WA 98362.
To view the site plan and playground equipment details, visit www.cityofpa.us/parksrecreation.htm.
For more information, phone Delikat at 360-417-4566 or email cdelikat@cityofpa.us.
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-417-3537 or at rob.ollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.