PRINEVILLE, OR -- Three Oregon cities competed to win funding for a new all-abilities playground from the Portland Trail Blazers-Moda Assist program. While Baker City eeked out the win, Crook County Parks and Recreation isn't giving up on Prineville's Old Stryker Field. Independence came in third in the online vote.

Prineville Park Competes for Blazers Grant (01/24/2019)

Elijah Tomlinson, with the parks district, says Stryker Park garnered more than 40,000 votes, which shows the community's support for the project. "That would've been great to win it; we're thinking it would've been to the tune of $40,000, and that's a great starting point for creation of a new park." He tells KBND News, "If anything, it's proven to us and it's shown us this is something that Prineville needs and something Prineville wants. So, it's not, by any means, the end."

Tomlinson says, "We want to continue to work towards raising money, getting materials donated, and hopefully, our goal is to still have this park built in the next year and an half to two years." He adds, "We have a great group of people on our foundation that's working toward meeting with business owners and continuing to push that financial need in our community and the surrounding area." He says they don't just need money to make it happen. Volunteers willing to lend a hand in the building of the park are also in high demand.

The project is part of a larger overhaul for the old park. The Kiwanis Club is also funding a splash pad.