Portage Health Donates $25,000 For Indoor Playground Project

Portage Health recently donated $25,000 (all those zeros are NOT a mis-type) to our little park! Yeah, PORTAGE! This puts us that much closer to our dream of an indoor, hub-of-wellness playspace for our youngsters. We're forging ahead! This is the write-up from "The Portage Post" and Daily Mining Gazette:

Portage Health has donated $25,000 to the Keweenaw Family Resource Center for an indoor playground project.

"The Tree House" will be an indoor playground and exploration space for children age newborn to 5 years and their parents or caregivers to enjoy open play and parent/child activities.

Featuring a large indoor treehouse climbing structure, a lily pond for toddlers, quiet areas and other activities, the playground is located in RedRidge Plaza on Sharon Avenue in Houghton. Construction is expected to be completed in January 2010.

"Portage Health is proud to partner with the Keweenaw Family Resource Center on the Tree House projct," said Portage Health president and CEO Jim Bogan. "The long winters here inhibit opportunities for children to play and develop their motor skills. We are pleased to support this initiative which is in direct keeping with our mission of improving the quality of life for community members of all ages."

Keweenaw Family Resource Center Executive Director, Cathy Benda, said the Tree House differs from preschool and daycare facilities in that their parents and caregivers stay and play with their children in a warm, clean, stimulating environment where other children and families are present.

"We are grateful to have the support of Portage Health for this project," Benda said. "We are thrilled by this donation to help us maintain and improve the health and wellbeing for children and families in our community."

For more information on the KFRC and The Treehouse indoor playground, visit http://www.kfrckids.org/.

-Jane Nordberg