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Third grader spearheads playground improvement
Girl raises funds for paint and cleanup

Submitted photo
Katia Mendoza and her crew pause after spending a day painting and cleaning up Cureton Park. Below (left) is Katia hard at work.

Submitted photo Katia Mendoza and her crew pause after spending a day painting and cleaning up Cureton Park. Below (left) is Katia hard at work.

In early March, nine-year-old Katia Mendoza, a third grader, noticed that the Cureton Park playground was in need of improvement. She climbed up into the equipment and took pictures of the graffiti and rust, and then wrote a letter to the Williams City Council and Mayor John Moore.

In her letter, Katia wrote, "Williams has good playgrounds. My brother and I like to play there. One is not so nice. I want to inform you about the playground at Cureton Park. To look good again, I think it is time for a new paint job."

Katia enclosed her pictures, and went on to offer her help to raise money for paint. She stated that she and her friends would be glad to help paint the playground.

Katia also discussed her plan with the Williams Lions Club, who agreed to help. Soon she received a call from Carol Glassburn, who told her that the Williams Kiwanis Club also wanted to assist her, and that the city of Williams would help and would like her to choose the colors for the paint. Katia designed the new look for the playground and chose the colors of red, white and blue. She also chose to invite her class, Ms. Chavez' third grade, to help paint the playground and do other improvements.

On May 2, Katia had a bake sale at the Little League Park. The generous families attending the games donated and bought yummy baked goods provided by Katia, Barb Parenteau, Edie Phillips, Amber Dent, Michael Mendoza and Bonnie Dent. Katia's grandmother and great-great-aunt Betty helped her sell the goodies. In spite of the wind, she cleared $109, which was used for paint and improvements.

On May 16, Katia gathered with friends and classmates for a day of painting and cleaning up the park. The third graders and their friends teamed up with Lions, Kiwanis and a city crew to make a difference. Pizza Factory donated lunch following the park's cleanup and renovation.

Those assisting Katia with the cleanup and renovation included David Dent, Bonnie Dent, Michael Dent, Ernie and Tish Hernandez, Teresa Rodriguez, Isaac Adams, Leo Rodriguez, Patty Williams, Maia Russell, Marylyn Wallace, George Wallace, Edie Phillips, Kayla Besler, Noah Besler, Connie Hiemenz, Carol Glassburn, Michaela Kinsey and Cecelia Lugo.


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