Tot Lot Committee: (Left to Right) Jennifer Bill, Brian Duarte, Karen Zieba, Dick Gaylord,  Kerrie Aley, Steve Kraemer, Stefanie Yates, Lori Stuart, Harry Saltzgaver, and Mike DuRee  (Photo T.L.C. Fundraising Kick Off Event July 14 2007)

June 7, 2007  Grunion Gazette Page: 1A
TLC Team Focuses On Tot Lot
by Kelly Garrison (Reprinted with the permission of the Gazette Newspapers)

They call themselves the Tot Lot Committee - TLC.
Their mission: Extreme Playground Makeover.

This neighborhood task force has rallied to revamp Livingston Park
Tot Lot, a popular playground in Belmont Shore that they say needs a
fresh look and new equipment. TLC is small group so far, but it has
big dreams for $300,000 in renovations.

"I think we can expand what we have and make it nicer," said Capt.
Mike DuRee of the Long Beach Fire Department, who is heading the
committee. "We can create something that will benefit the
neighborhood for years to come."

The group of about 10 met for the first time on Monday, June 4, at
the LBFD Community Service Center in Belmont Shore, where they
brainstormed and established initial goals for the project. Ideas for
the playground, which was designed for children ages 3 to 5, include
providing new play equipment, some landscaping and possibly
additional facilities for children ages 5 to 12.

"We all want to do what we can to help," said Dick Gaylord, who lives
near the park.

The committee's next steps, DuRee said, are to develop a board of
directors, a project timeline and plans for fundraising. The group
also plans to post a sign at the park - which will need approval from
the Department of Parks, Recreation and Marine - stating its project
goals and intentions.

Dennis Eschen, supervisor of Parks planning and development, told the
group that the city expects to reinstate a matching grant program in
the next fiscal year, with enough money to match what is raised by
the group.

Harry Saltzgaver, president of Parks and Recreation Commission and
executive editor of Gazette Newspapers, said that means TLC would
need to collect $150,000 in donations, ideally by or before December.

"I think the community will rally behind the project, but it'll take
a large scale effort," DuRee said. "Door-to-door is a start, but it
won't pay for it all."

The project happens to coincide with efforts to build a universally
accessible playground at El Dorado Park West. Saltzgaver said that
donations would need to come from Belmont Shore sponsors to avoid
conflicts with raising money for that project.

A number of different fund-raising ideas were discussed, including
selling engraved bricks or other customized elements at the park, a
barbecue at the park and direct appeals for donations. Members said
they would continue to discuss additional sponsorship possibilities
for the tot lot at future meetings.

The original playground was built in the 1970s and rebuilt around
1991. Private donations, with matching money from the city, paid for
its construction.

Last month, community members discussed the use of the nearby Bay
Shore Community Congregational Church parking lot and a proposal to
move the playground at a meeting called by Third District Councilman
Gary DeLong. Nearly 200 people expressed a desire to keep the
playground at its current site.

"We want to keep the park where it is, but improve it," Gaylord said.

The Tot Lot Committee will meet again at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, June
11, at the Community Service Center, 5365 E. Second St. Details also
will be released soon about a ceremony marking the project's
inception on Friday, June 22. A Web site also is expected to be
operational soon.

For more information or to make a tax-deductible donation to the
project, call 433-2000, ext.119.