Just about everywhere you go in the Malvern area these days—Kohlerman's Pharmacy, Malvern Pizza, Caffe Craze, Jake's Frozen Custard—you're not far from a Friends of Greentree Park fundraising endeavor.

The Friends, an offshoot of the Moms Club of Malvern, are hoping to add new play equipment for younger children in the park, which they consider an under-utilized community asset. Specifically, they are looking to install a Little Tikes play set, a sandbox and two spring riders, and are working to raise the $40,000 necessary to do so.

In addition to selling coloring books and asking people to mention their cause when buying a frozen treat, the group has applied for $20,000 in grant funding. The Friends' most high-profile fundraiser, though, will take place June 18, when the group will host a Party and Family Walk at the park, sponsored by TD Bank.

Raising the $40,000 is not child’s play. In June 2010, the group presented a detailed proposal with nearly 500 signatures to the Willistown Board of Supervisors, in hopes the township might supply all or some of the funding.

Word came back in December that Willistown wouldn't be able to chip in. The Friends continued on, undaunted, securing other sources of funding. They return to the board periodically to explain their progress.

"It shows we’ve followed through with it," Kristin Thomas, one of the most active members of the Friends, said. "We've got skin in the game."

Why Greentree Park?

“It has fences, so it's contained, public restrooms, parking, a picnic gazebo, shade and a baseketball court. There are trails around it, and you can bike around it, as well. There's a lot of green space to run,” Thomas said. “It’s under-utilized.  Basically, it’s not exciting enough, kids don’t want to go there. It’s boring.”

"If you have more than one child, a fence is mandatory," Lori Bartlett, a member of the Friends, said.

Also mandatory is a restroom, a rare and wonderful feature in municipal parks with playgrounds.

"What's the point of going to park if you have to leave in four minutes because someone has to go to bathroom?" Bartlett said.

Willistown Parks Director Mary McLoughlin supports the Friends’ efforts, and has worked with the group to make the new equipment a reality. She used to bring her daughter to the park and can relate to their experience.

"I used to bring daughter to this park when she was 2-and-a-half or 3-years-old. She'd use the mini slide thing, and that was it." McLoughlin said. "You can’t have a 3-year-old climbing the rock wall."

The proponents believe the new equipment could be installed as soon as next year. The potential location has bounced around a bit, but it will probably settle next to the basketball court, not on the shaded, far side of the park as originally planned.

For more information on the June 18 Family Walk and Park Party and how to support the Friends of Greentree Park, visit the Greentree section of the Moms Club web page. Check out the Friends of Greentree Park on Facebook.