Carole Ann Walley Memorial Playground

Carole Ann Walley, whose remains are interred in the Christ Church Columbarium, was a Junior High School teacher in Newburgh, New York. She was the sister of our parishioner, Cynthia Lee, and mother of our previous Summer Camp Director, Tory Walley. She had a love for all children, the Christ Church Summer Camp, and the outdoors. In Carole's memory her husband, Paul Walley, donated state-of-the art playground equipment as a gift to the children of our community, replacing the existing 20-year-old, deteriorating wooden equipment on the north side of our property.

Saturday, June 4th, saw the compete installation of the new 4000 square foot state-of-the-art playground. It could not have been done without the generous and enthusiastic help and support of the community around the church. Nearly 100 volunteers participated from 8:00 AM until 8:00 PM to complete the work in one day. We wish to thank all those who volunteered---parents of Clinton School children, students from the Poughkeepsie High School National Honor Society, neighbors around the church, residents from Daytop Prep School, members of the Virgin of Guadalupe congregation, parents of Christ Church Summer Camp children, NYS DOT retirees, Bolger House residents, parishioners of Christ Church and St. Paul's, and countless other contributors. It was an exciting and fulfilling day even though it was hot and exhausting. We thank everyone for their intense dedication under the circumstances.

We also want to recognize and thank the numerous businesses and organizations without whose generosity we would not have been able to install this terrific new playground. They are: the city of Poughkeepsie, Clinton School, Parkitects Installers, Royal Carting Service Co., Mannino Electric, Handy Rent-All, Tilcon (Trap Rock), B-Dry Systems of Southern New York, Price Chopper, Stop & Shop, Davies Hardware, Darling Sand & Gravel, Superior Sanitation, Package Pavement Co., Inc., Unilock New York, Adams Fairacre Farms, and all the people who purchased "nuts & bolts" for $5 apiece to support the effort financially. The Lee and DeCapua families, also related to Carole Walley, added to the original donation from Carole's husband, Rev. Paul Walley.

The organizers of this event were Jim Bliss, Cynthia Lee, and Paul Walley. Their subcommittee members were Yvonne Poley-Angstom, Peggy Kraft, Denise Quis, Jack Angstrom, Paul Fraser, James Monteith, Mike George, Rosemarie Calista, and Rose Marie Proctor.

We want to extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone involved in this incredible project. The reward for the effort has been evident everyday since the playground opened as we watch as many as 50 neighborhood children with their parents playing and laughing on our grounds. On Sunday, June 5, 2005, Bishop Don Taylor led processional at end of 10:00 service out the front doors of the church and around to the playground site and blessed it.

For the Playground Committees,
Jim Bliss