Timber Town - Many Hands Make Light Work

Written by 5 Healthy Towns Foundation Staff

Have you seen the changes happening at TimberTown Park in Chelsea? Our local communities answered the call with more than 600 volunteers who were involved in almost every aspect of the rebuilding project.

The project -- led by Jeff Hardcastle, City of Chelsea Parks Chair Shawn Personke, and the Chelsea Area Friends for Recreation’s Sam Angus and Kristina Martin – has been in the works for over two years. The City of Chelsea staff – from the city manager and all administrative staff to the entire public works, electric, and water crews -- were integral to the project and their contribution was key to its success.

The project was also guided by a Steering Committee, formed in January 2024. Volunteer captains for construction, food, volunteers, childcare, fundraising, and communications mustered the forces on all fronts to get TimberTown to the ribbon cutting.

TimberTown steering committee member Shawn Personke commented on the power of the community while working on this project. “Every time we approached someone— whether it was a company or a volunteer— they always said ‘yes.’ It was nonstop ‘yes’ for the last two years. This project would not have been possible without the incredible support from our community partners like the Chelsea Community Foundation, Chelsea State Bank, and countless local businesses.”

Local businesses and organizations answered “yes” to requests for help in many ways!

Employers such as Chelsea State Bank, Chelsea Hospital, 5 Healthy Towns Foundation, and more allowed their staff members to participate in the build as part of their workday, while Gestamp employees rebuilt the roofs of TimberTown’s towers.

This can-do spirit was evident on the last day of construction when more than 45 volunteers showed up at the TimberTown site to move the last of the mulch into place around the play features. What was supposed to take several hours wrapped up in under 90 minutes.

The park officially opened for use on Friday, August 23rd as Chelsea children cut the ribbon and then christened the playground. The updated park includes 20 new pieces of equipment for Tot Town (2–5-year-olds), 19 new pieces for 5–12-year-olds, refurbishment of the wooden play structure, improved sightlines, and more!

TimberTown Steering Committee Members

Co-Chairs:

Jeff Hardcastle, Shawn Personke, Kristina Martin, Sam Angus

Construction Captains: Jerry Gordonier, Rick Frankhart, Brian McLaughlin, LB Hilbert, Jeff Rohrer, Doug LaPlant, Patrick Muldoon, Steve Wright, Derik Bollinger

Food Captains: Sharon Castle, Cathy Blair

Volunteer Captains: Julie Sverid, Marijo Grogan

Fundraising Captains: Matt McKernan, Judy Stratman

Communication Captain: Emily Taylor

Zero Waste Reps: Megan McCall and Pat Muldoon

Childcare Captains: Pat Rohrer, Kathy Brigham, Nicole Trinkle Coxford, Amy Fraser

At Large:

Terris Ahrens, Marty Coburn, Peter Feeney, Marcus Kaemming, Joe Kummer, Laura Ouellette, Matt Pegouskie, Steve Petty, Abby Reilly, JoAnne Rau, Anne Seyferth, Casey Wescott, Jessica Zubik