Community Corner

'Goodwill' Campaign For Wildomar Park Sees Grand Finale

Saturday's event, which runs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., marks the finale for "Goodwill for Parks."

Feb. 18 marks the last chance to bring your unwanted junk to for a fundraiser that benefits the city park.

“Bring your unwanted stuff, clean out your closets, garage and storage units, We want it all!” reads a flier being distributed for the cause.

Volunteers have been out in force throughout Wildomar over the last several weeks, collecting donations of unwanted goods that will see proceeds go toward the maintenance of Marna O’Brien, according to Friends for Wildomar Parks, a non-profit established to keep the largest of the city’s three parks open.

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But Saturday’s event, which runs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., marks the finale for “Goodwill for Parks.”

“This is the last Saturday to donate to Goodwill for Parks,” said Wildomar City Councilwoman Bridgette Moore by email. “Every 28-foot trailer filled up [with stuff] will be $1,500 for Wildomar Parks.”

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Marna O’Brien is the only Wildomar park that remains open in the city, but its future is in question. Wildomar’s and parks were closed after

Friends for Wildomar Parks was established last year to keep Marna O’Brien up and running. The organization is headed mostly by officials from sports organizations -- including local Pop Warner and Little League -- who want to see the park remain open for organized youth sports.

The city is in the process of negotiating a licensing agreement with Friends for Wildomar Parks that would see the non-profit take over the maintenance and upkeep of Marna O’Brien.

Officials from Friends for Wildomar Parks were at a Feb. 8 Wildomar City Council meeting and provided an overview of their current activities. During the meeting, council members asked the organization to come back to the city with a more in-depth report, including information on financials and specifics on how the park would be operated.

Mayor Ben Benoit and Mayor Pro Tem Tim Walker said reporting is necessary to ensure transparency and allay any concerns that Friends for Wildomar Parks might skew in favor of one sports league over another. The non-profit’s board is currently weighted with Pop Warner officials.

The next Wildomar City Council meeting is scheduled March 14 at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall. The agenda for that meeting will be available March 9.

For more information on Friends for Wildomar Parks, donating to the parks, or volunteering time to the maintenance of Marna O’Brien, call 951-837-4114 or visit www.wildomarparks.org.

For more information on the Feb. 18 event, click on the attached flier.


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