CHARLESTON, W.V. – Today, Tuesday, December 7, Mayor Amy Shuler Goodwin joined officials from Kanawha County Schools, the Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation and the Charleston Rotary Club to unveil plans for a new Celebration Station on Charleston’s East End.
There will be two main areas of Celebration Station: one for Piedmont Elementary School students and the other a community playground open to all.
“Celebration Station is a beloved playground that is in need of new equipment for our city’s youth,” said Mayor Goodwin. “The city is happy to be part of this project to help provide an inclusive and fun place for all.”
Renderings for the new playground include new swings, climbing equipment, standalone playsets, sensory-sensitive equipment, accessible equipment, seating areas and more.
“Before designing the playground, we held community listening sessions with kids over the summer,” said Piedmont Elementary School Principal Ashley James. “We wanted to give kids a voice in the process, so they could tell us what they wanted for their play space. It was a lot of fun to hear their ideas, and we were able to incorporate many of them.”
Funds for the project were raised, in part, by a campaign spearheaded by Charleston Rotary Club. Through private, corporate and philanthropic contributions they received $149,000 to go towards this project. Students at Piedmont Elementary also raised approximately $110,000 towards their school playground.
“The Charleston Rotary Club is excited to have been the catalyst for the revitalization of Celebration Station, as we live out our mission of service above self. We look forward to making a modern facility available for the enjoyment of community residents in spring 2022,” said Dr. Michelle Foster.
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, 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.
A groundbreaking is expected to take place in Spring 2022.
