Starkville”s Junior Auxiliary group recently completed yet another improvement project at a city park.
The organization, dedicated to volunteering and community service projects that benefit local children, was able to raise funds to renovate bathrooms at McKee Park and install four new swings at the park playground. Two of the swings have regular seats while the other two are designed for small children.
Kathleen Hilbun, head of Starkville Junior Auxiliary”s parks and recreation committee, was at McKee Park Wednesday afternoon with her two children, Walker, 4, and Mary Brown, 2, to enjoy the new swing set. Hilbun looked around at the park”s athletic fields and tennis courts, then back at the playground equipment and swings.
“You”ve got stuff for all ages right here,” Hilbun said.
About this time last year, Junior Auxiliary raised funds for a toddler playground at the Starkville Sportsplex, not far from McKee Park on Lynn Lane. The organization also painted at Moncrief Park, held a cookout at J.L. King Park and painted at Josey Park, among other recent activities.
Starkville Parks and Recreation Department Director Matthew Rye said he is grateful the Junior Auxiliary organization takes an active role in improving the city”s parks. Junior Auxiliary raised $2,500 for the new swing set.
“Their partnership is valuable to us,” Rye said. “They”re always looking for ways to not only volunteer their time, but their resources and money to make the park system a better part of the community.”
As Hilbun pushed her kids on the swings, she said the projects were just part of Junior Auxiliary”s continuing effort to improve parks and recreation opportunities for Starkville”s children.
“Junior Auxiliary is all about the kids,” she said.
For more information on Starkville Junior Auxiliary, visit http://starkvilleja.org.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 32 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.