New equipment donated including BBQ pits, benches, basketball hoops

Photo courtesy Rotary Club of Morgan Hill
The Rotary Club of Morgan Hill spruced up Galvan Park.

By Staff Report

When it comes to cleaning up a public park, call in the Rotarians.

The Rotary Club of Morgan Hill spent much of June 12 tidying up Galvan Park to make it a nicer spot for the families living near the city park. In total, 52 volunteers participated, including Rotarians from several of the Area 6 clubs — Almaden Valley, Gilroy After Hours, Gilroy Sunrise, and San Juan Bautista — as well as staff from the El Toro Boys and Girls Club and other community members.

The work consisted of picking up trash, distributing mulch for weed control, and painting benches and trash cans. Volunteers enjoyed visiting with each other while having breakfast and coffee before buckling down to work, said Lisa Bjarke, director of public image for the Rotary Club of Morgan Hill.

“With the many helping hands, the work was accomplished in a little more than two hours,” she said. “Those who could stay around enjoyed a grilled lunch expertly cooked by Morgan Hill Rotarian Brad Ledwith. The Rotary Club of Morgan Hill has adopted the park and will continue to maintain the park once a month.”

Galvan Park was chosen for the cleanup project because the park is in an underserved area of the community and was one of the first community parks in the city.

The property was acquired by the city of Morgan Hill from The American Legion in 1962. Galvan Park has a long connection to the Rotary Club of Morgan Hill. Previously, the club built a handball court and improved the baseball diamond. The club also held its first Harvey Barrett Annual Free Senior Dinner for Morgan Hill seniors in 1987 at the park’s Friendly Inn. This site is where the Boys and Girls Club is now located.

The Rotary Club of Morgan Hill coordinated the clean-up work with Chris Ghione and Keri Russell, staff with the city of Morgan Hill. The city provided the mulch. It is installing equipment donated by the Rotary Club including basketball hoops, additional BBQ pits, benches, and informational signs. The club also donated a volleyball set to the Boys and Girls Club.

The clean-up was supported by generous local businesses including food from McDonald’s restaurant, and supplies from A-Tool Shed and Johnson Lumber ACE Hardware.