SWCA Foundation breaks ground with the City of Vancouver

City of Vancouver Parks and Recreation officials and members of the Southwest Washington Contractors Association (SWCA) today, June 26, 2015 held a groundbreaking ceremony for their collaborative community project to provide facility upgrades at Marine Park, which will be completed between June 26 and July 31. A donation of $50,000 by the Community Foundation to the City of Vancouver provided materials for these site improvements, while SWCA members will provide equipment and labor.

The 26-acre site connecting to the Waterfront Park offers walking trails, play equipment, picnic shelters, boat launch, and restrooms. At the ceremony, Mayor Tim Leavitt said, “The timing for this project could not be more ideal. I just had multiple citizens of the community mention the picnic benches falling apart at Marine Park. Parks like this need more attention and we are only able to provide that through partnerships like these.” Replacing the 13 picnic tables with ADA compliant ones will be the focus of the project. It will also include the replacement of a drinking fountain and landscape repairs, all aimed at providing an improved park site for community members to utilize. 

Darcy Altizer, SWCA Executive Director, said at the ceremony that building community is just as important to members as building actual structures within the community. SWCA Board Member Mike Nieto of Catworks Construction was integral in pinpointing Marine Park as the SWCA’s second community project. He had been searching for a project which aligned with the SWCA mission and provided members the opportunity to connect their trades with a good cause. The partnership between the City of Vancouver and SWCA turned out to be an excellent fit. 

SWCA members donating their resources to the project are Anchor Concrete, Catworks Construction, Equipment Rental Services, North Fork Landscape Inc., Precision Rebar & Accessories, Stellar J, and Waste Connections Inc.