Rotary unveils Phase 1 work on Kagman park

Phase II of the construction of the Kagman Community Park has been put on hold until the necessary funding is granted to the Rotary Club of Saipan through the local housing agency’s Community Development Block Grant program.

The park was initiated by the local Rotary Club over seven months ago. The group decided that it was financially easier to split the entire park project into two phases.

Half of Phase I was funded through the Northern Marianas Housing Corp.’s CDBG and the second half was funded by the Rotary Club itself.

Unfortunately, the recent grant application submitted by the Rotary Club to initiate Phase II work was denied.

According to the Rotary Club president Thomson Thornburgh, he recently learned that the grant application they had submitted had been denied.

Although Thornburgh assures the public that they will continue to re-submit applications for the grant, it is still indefinite as to when they will get the necessary funding to carry out Phase II.

Phase II includes the sidewalks and equipment that can be used by adults.

Fortunately, Phase I of the Kagman Community Park has been completed. The Rotary Club had a soft opening yesterday, featuring the group’s district governor, Masamori Sawatari.

Although finishing touches were still being made to the park yesterday, the group pressed ahead with the soft opening as a means of celebrating the visit of the district governor.

They were joined by a few of the Interact Club members from each of the high schools: Kagman High School, Marianas High School, and Saipan Southern High school.

The Interact Club members took part in the tree planting ceremony with Sawatari and his companions.

The high school students even sang an original composition for Sawatari and company.

Kagman High School principal Leila Staffler was present during the soft opening to accompany the Interact Club members from Kagman High School.

According to Staffler, it was a great idea for the Rotary Club to build a park right next to the Kagman Community Center because students now have a centralized place for positive and healthy activities.

Staffler encourages those who would use the park to help maintain it. “Respect is really highly valued in our home, community and culture. This is another area we consider part of our Kagman home, if you are a part of the Kagman community, treat this place how you would treat your home,” she said.