Prunedale residents come together to build new playground
With about 20,000 people, Prunedale is a city without any downtown or Main Street.
But over the years, many resident have looked to Manzanita Park off San Miguel Canyon Road as a place to gather.
“I started when there was one field at the top of the hill for little league. And now we have five little league fields, four softball fields, two soccer fields, a BMX track and batting cages,” said Linda Scherer, who has been a Prunedale resident for 54 years.
Manzanita Park is more than just a park to the Prunedale community; it is where their kids grew up.
“A lot of the community members have been here for 30-plus years. And then, of course, there are younger ones that a lot of the families, that the kids never leave. They stay here, and you have generations of families out here,” said John Grajek, a board member with the Manzanita Youth Sports Complex.
The park itself is about 35 years old. Volunteers and donations built everything there is here.
Now, the community is coming together again to raise money for a children’s playground. Their goal is $80,000, and they have raised about $20,000.
“All of the building is going to be done by volunteers. The equipment is what we are raising funds for,” said Kim Pantel, one of the organizers.
Supporters of the playground held an event on Saturday called Manzanita Days. It is the first year they are having it, and they hope to hold it annually.
Organizers say it is a fundraising event this time, but it certainly is doing a whole lot more than just raising money.
“People are talking and meeting and eating. We have the fire department, sheriff out here on display with the Kids Corner over here with the bounce houses,” said Grajek.
Building community is just as important as building a playground for kids. And perhaps, it only takes a playground to keep the community thriving in the tight-knit town.
“My children played and now my grandchildren play here. And we’d like to see their children play here,” said Scherer.
