TIDNISH - An online contest by a popular soft drink company could provide a large boost to a local playground upgrade project.
The Tidnish Crossroads and Area Community Association is aiming to install a hard surface to be used as a multi-sport area at the playground, already a popular destination beside the local ball field.
The idea is for the hard surface to be used by people of al ages for all sports, according to association president Tanya Tuttle-Comeau. Uses could include basketball, tennis, ball hockey and summer camp activities.
“Because such a surface is expensive to install ($10,000-$15,000) I was looking for funding opportunities online and I found the Pepsi contest,” she said.
The idea to expand the playground was born this summer through casual conversation in the community, she explained. After interest was expressed, a pledge sheet was placed at the local store, with the owner kicking off the campaign with a generous $1,000 donation. Six months later, the total raised sits between $2,500 and $3,000.
The Tidnish project is entered in the $10,000 funding category of the Pepsi Refresh Project, which allows visitors to the contest website the chance to vote in six categories - health, arts and culture, food and shelter, the planet, neighbourhoods and education.
With the top three ideas to receive the funding, the Tidnish project sat in 45th place as of Tuesday, and 24 days left to vote.
Those wishing to support the project can visit www.refresheverything.ca/tidnishplaygroundexpansion and register with the site in order to vote. You can vote 10 times per day (maximum of once per project.) A Cumberland YMCA project is also in the running.
“I’d love to see local people support the Tidnish playground project and the Amherst YMCA too,” said Tuttle-Comeau. “Once you are on the site, it would only take a few seconds to vote for both local projects.”
The community association is also accepting pledges on a pledge sheet at the Tidnish General Store and any persons or businesses that wish to support the project can sign up at the store or call Tanya Tuttle-Comeau at 667-1927.
