Redmond wins Blazers online contest for new playground

The Portland Trail Blazers are on quite a win streak – and now, supporters of the city of Redmond’s Baler Park has grabbed onto their coattails and it’s going to get an all-abilities playground , thanks to the mouse-clicks victory in an online vote competition sponsored by Moda Inc. and the Blazers.

The Blazers teamed up to promote active, healthy lifestyles for children through their Moda Assist program. A final vote tally wasn’t immediately available, but the “congratulations” banner on the Moda Assist Web page says it all.

Playgrounds can be difficult for children with disabilities to use and enjoy. That’s where Moda and the Trail Blazers come in. The Moda Assist program, now in its fifth year, donates $10 to the Trail Blazers Foundation for every assist during the first 46 games. Those funds go to help build all-abilities playgrounds in Oregon communities.

“Our goal is to create better, healthier communities,” said Karis Stoudamire-Phillips. “Playgrounds are great places for kids to be active and have fun, but they need to be accessible to all kids.”

Each year, people nominate communities to be considered. Three communities are selected and then fans can go online and vote. Voting was open between February 20 and March 19 at trailblazers.com/assists. This year’s communities and parks were:

Dallas, Roger Jordan Community Park Gresham, Davis Park (Rockwood) Redmond, Baker Park

The Moda Assist program has built all-abilities playgrounds in La Grande, Portland, Medford, Hermiston and Medford.

The contest votes had to be scrubbed clean recently when some people found a way to vote more than once a day, as the rules directed. The month-long voting ended on Monday, and officials eliminated duplicate votes from the same person on the same day.

“We are very excited to have Baker Park’s renovation project in the running for the Trail Blazers Assist Program,” stated Annie McVay, Redmond Parks and Facilities Division manager. “As the only project east of the Cascades, it’s going to take voting by park supporters throughout Central Oregon to win. The funding would kickstart needed updating of one of our oldest parks.”