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Community service projects:
The art fair serves a greater good. The Community Club’s
art fair proceeds support youth programs, environmental
projects and publishing a community newspaper—service
projects that benefit the Park Point Community also
serve the wider population of Duluth inhabitants. These
projects have fostered a unity of purpose among volunteers,
artists and fair goers alike. Some examples:
1 . Annual tree planting. Community Club members engage
school children in planting trees to help stop beach
erosion and to prevent sand from blowing onto walkways
and public parking areas. Sanctioned by the DNR, these
actions provide a valuable educational lesson to school
children about the uniqueness and fragility of the Park
Point ecosystem.
2. Boardwalks. The Club has also built numerous boardwalks,
including projects in conjunction with Rotary volunteers.
Each boardwalk helps to prevent beach erosion and provide
handicapped access to the beauty of the Park Point beach.
3. Youth programs. The Community Club has also donated
tens of thousands over the years. Recently, more than
$10,000 was contributed in the past five years for youth
programs such as the summer and winter programs at Lafayette,
softball games, picnics, Halloween parties, and art
supplies. Kids travel from other parts of the city to
take part in the youth programs. In 2009 the Club plans
on sponsoring the entire summer youth program as this
important offering has been cut by Parks and Recreation
due to lack of funding.
4. Community news. Another important community contribution
made possible by funds generated by the art fair is
the Park Point Breeze. A community newspaper with a
32-year history, the Breeze informs readers and provides
a forum for discussion about important issues—part
of the glue that keeps our community together.
5 . Giving more. The Club and its members donate volunteer
time and funding to various local charities that seek
assistance.
Although these monetary figures represent a substantial
investment back into Duluth, they do not reflect the
value associated with the thousands of hours volunteered
by Park Point residents and friends who make these projects
possible.
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