Ribbon Cutting Ceremony Planned for Special Needs Playground Equipment at Lavonia City Park

It took over a year of hard work and intensive fundraising, but next month, City of Lavonia officials and members of the Lavonia Pilot Club will dedicate the new playground equipment designed for special needs kids and adults.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony is scheduled for Monday, March 6 at 5p at Lavonia City Park.

Fundraising began in earnest in 2021 by the Pilot Club to raise a share of the funds needed to pay for the playground equipment.

“We went in front of a roundtable at the Downtown Development Authority and we spoke about the project and put it out there to the community. Then we started sending out letters and people started donating. And the community has been very generous with us. Within nine months we had the money raised,” said Pilot Club project manager Susan Harbin.

The Pilot Club’s goal was $50,000 to purchase the equipment but they raised just over $64,000. A check was presented to the City last fall.

The money covers four pieces of playground equipment that were installed at Lavonia City Park but Harbin said they might purchase more in the future if needed.

“We purchased a swing for a wheelchair or two people. You can actually put two wheelchairs on the swing. We’ve got a cycler, we’ve got a chime with three tympanic drums and we also have a chin-up, pull-up bar. We don’t have anything else on order right now. If there is room, which we think there will be, then we will potentially bring some more pieces in,” she explained.

Some of the fundraisers held by the Pilot Club included an evening dinner at Sweet Combs of Honey, and two events at the Lavonia Chick-Fil-A.

The Pilot Club also received several grants along with many large and small private donations.

Again, the ribbon cutting and ceremony are scheduled for Monday, March 6 at 5p Lavonia City Park and the public is invited.