What can happen when a church, a co-op and a neighborhood get together to plan thoughtfully for community? Keep checking here to find out as the storefront building on 35th between Yamhill and Taylor goes though renovation and revitalization as an outreach to community through the Sunnyside United Methodist Church with help and support from the Sunnyside Swap Shop Co-op and Sunnyside neighbors.
Plans are afoot to open a Community Cafe by next fall in the downstairs area of this building – originally the neighborhood grocery store.
A small neighborhood grant has been awarded through Southeast Uplift to start a Park Equipment Sharing Program through Sunnyside Methodist Church for Sunnyside Park – the park that is part of Sunnyside Environmental School one block off Belmont at SE Yamhill Street between 34th and 35th.
Money has been awarded for a storage shed to be placed on the storefront property and for the purchase of all types of equipment (balls, toddler bikes, juggling equipment, chess sets, etc) to be loaned out for use in the park after school, on weekends and in the summer time.
Seen as a co-operative way to build community, the Park Equipment Sharing program will be gathering input through the winter and spring on best equipment to acquire, developing a fair and equitable way to organize how often and how long the equipment is loaned out to families in the park before planning a kick off event so we can all start enjoying the community equipment this summer.
Co-ordinators of the Park Equipment Sharing Program also hope to inspire families to donate outgrown play equipment items so the grant funded initial set of equipment lasts for many years to come.
If you have suggestions for the community cafe or the park equipment sharing program . . . if you have items to donate or wish to contribute to the planning process in any way, please send your input to sunnystorefront@gmail.com.