CITY, KCS, CHARLESTON ROTARY CLUB, AND PIEDMONT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CELEBRATED GRAND OPENING OF CELEBRATION STATION
(Charleston, W. Va.) – The City of Charleston, Kanawha County Schools (KCS), the Charleston Rotary Club, and Piedmont Elementary School today celebrated the grand opening of the new Celebration Station on Charleston’s East End with a ribbon cutting ceremony.
“It has been incredible to see the transformation of Celebration Station from a playground needing new equipment to being this vibrant accessible space for all of our community members to enjoy,” said Mayor Amy Shuler Goodwin. “We are thrilled the City could help support this project alongside our community partners.”
Celebration Station includes two main areas – one for Piedmont Elementary School students and a community playground that is open to all. The new playground includes new swings, climbing equipment, standalone play sets, sensory-sensitive equipment, accessible equipment, seating areas, and more. The green space at Celebration Station features three 4’x8’ original works of art commissioned by the Charleston Rotary Club and created by local artists Melissa Doty, Nichole Westfall and Blake Wheeler – with support from Charleston Creativity Connections and the City of Charleston Office of Public Art. In addition, the original Celebration Station wall on Quarrier Street was repainted by local artist Ryan Hurlbutt and community volunteers.
“We sincerely thank all those involved in making this updated space a reality for our children in this area,” said Dr. Tom Williams, superintendent of Kanawha County Schools. “We know that so much work went into this and we thank all those involved. This was truly a team effort. We hope that as students look around and enjoy these new playground features that they realize just how very much they are supported and valued.”
Funds for the project were raised, in part, by a campaign spearheaded by Charleston Rotary Club. Through private, corporate and philanthropic contributions they received $153,010 to go towards this project. Students at Piedmont Elementary also raised nearly $125,000 towards their school playground. In addition, the City of Charleston contributed $300,000 and KCS provided funding for fencing, paving, lighting, necessary infrastructure, and project management for installation.
“The Charleston Rotary Club is honored to be a catalyst for the restoration of this community treasure,” said Dr. Michelle Foster. “We are thankful to our donors and project partners for their unwavering commitment to seeing this project finally come to fruition.”
Project donors include City of Charleston, AEP Foundation, BB&T/Truist Foundation, Marty Becker, JP Morgan Chase Bank, Charleston Marine, Contractors Association of West Virginia, J. L. Dickinson Foundation, Encova Foundation, Fifth Third Bank, Glotfelty Foundation, Kelly Castlebury and Graystone Consulting, Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation, McDonough Foundation, United Bank, WV American Water Foundation, Martha Gaines & Russel Wehrle Foundation, Michael Wehrle, Charleston Rotary Club members, Suttle & Stalnaker, Bailey & Glasser LLP, Old Colony Co. of Greater Kanawha Valley, McJunkin Elevators, Indonesha LLC, United Mine Workers of America, Charleston Area Medical Center PO, Kalasky Orthodontics LTD, Howard and Howard DDS, PLLC, Lora B. Ford, DDS MS PLLC, Tracy L. Wilkerson, DDS PLLC, Sparks Family Orthodontics PLLC, Victor & Victor LLP, Andrew Zegeer DDS, Living Word Christian Center, Dr. John W. McGehee Jr., Dr. Byron H. Black DDS PLLC, Lorena M. Surber DDS, PLLC, Carrie L. Courtney DDS PLLC, Piedmont Elementary Students, their families and supporters.
