Easton Rotarians to begin Idlewild Park project

The Rotary Club of Easton, Maryland is fulfilling Rotary’s motto of “Service Above Self” in preparation for its centennial in 2021 with the launch of an improvement project and new construction at Easton’s Idlewild Park.

The pavilion renovations and creation of a new Rotary Centennial Flags for Heroes Court are being done in recognition of the Rotary Club of Easton’s centennial in 2021. The Rotary Pavilion was the Club’s gift to the town’s residents when the club celebrated its 75th anniversary in 1996.

The Rotary Pavilion has become a gathering spot for community members and faith organizations to use for numerous occasions since its installation in 1996. The pavilion’s six columns represent Character Counts’ Six Pillars of Character, which are trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring, and citizenship.

This is the first initiative in a year-long commemoration of the Club’s centennial, with a formal dedication of the completed project planned to take place in 2021.

The Rotary Club of Easton’s Idlewild Park improvement plans as seen from the pavilion, with a tape measure stretched to show the area that will include a new, lighted flag court and other improvements as construction begins this fall. The project is being done in recognition of Easton Rotary’s 2021 centennial, with the Rotary Club of Easton, Maryland the world’s first Rotary club in a town of fewer than 10,000 people.

The project addresses poor drainage issues around the current pavilion and adds a new, lighted flag court that includes a new paved area, memorial bricks, and benches. The new features will be located in the area stretching from the pavilion toward the existing flags at Idlewild.

The project is made possible through charitable donations made in recognition of Easton Rotary’s centennial. Donors include Rotary Club of Easton members, Flags for Heroes donors, Easton Rotary’s Youth & Community Fund, Rotary District 7630, local businesses, and other generous individuals.

Easton Rotary is working in partnership with Town of Easton Engineer, Rick VanEmburgh, and the Town of Easton’s Parks & Recreation Director, Lorraine Gould for this project.

“Professional landscape architect and Rotarian George Corey is volunteering his services and heading the project on our end,” said Easton Rotary Centennial Chair Ron Flohr. “And we’re very grateful for the in-kind donations from organizations including Willow Construction, who helped provide supplies so that many of our freshman Rotarians could paint the pavilion late last year.”

From left: Town of Easton Engineer Rick VanEmburgh, Town of Easton Parks & Recreation Director Lorraine Gould, and Rotary Club of Easton member George Corey of Wye Tree Landscapes recently met to review Easton Rotary’s plans for pavilion improvements and a new Rotary Centennial Flags for Heroes Court at Idlewild Park in Easton.

A centennial time capsule of Rotary memorabilia collected since the Club’s 1921 beginning in Easton is planned for the new flag court.

Construction of the new Rotary Centennial Flags for Heroes Court and pavilion improvements are set to begin Sept. 1, 2020, and continue through the end of the month.

The Rotary Club of Easton, Maryland is the world’s first Rotary Club in a town of fewer than 10,000 people, with nearly 100 members committed to the Rotary motto of “Service above Self.” Easton Rotarians are part of a global network of more than 1.2 million Rotarians who are changing lives in their communities and around the world. The Rotary Club of Easton currently holds Zoom meetings each Thursday at noon, with the meetings posted live on Easton Rotary’s Facebook page. For more information, please visit eastonrotary.org.