By Lisa Carolin
There is a group of people who have been working together for the past several years with the goal of satisfying recreational needs for the Chelsea community.
They are the Chelsea Area Friends for Recreation (CAFR), a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization.
CAFR wants to find recreation that offers personal growth, healthy lifestyles, and a sense of community and would like to see a centrally located, intergenerational, family friendly community center built in Chelsea.
“Our primary mission is to enhance and support recreational and cultural opportunities for people of all ages in the greater Chelsea community,” said Kristina Martin, president of CAFR’s board, which also includes Jim Randolph as vice president, Dennis McDonald as treasurer, Laura Tackett as secretary, and Melissa Johnson and Monica Monsma as members.
The organization began following the completion of work by the Chelsea Community Center Exploratory Committee, which in 2015 received a grant from the Chelsea Community Foundation. The grant was used to perform a recreational needs assessment in the Chelsea area.
Martin said, “Based on these findings along with general feedback from the community, input from community stakeholders, and public entities such as the City of Chelsea Parks and Recreation Commission.
CAFR will focus on: Recreation that inspires and promotes personal growth, healthy lifestyles and a sense of community; Attractive, safe, affordable, and well-maintained places to play, gather, learn, and recreate; Dynamic parks and recreational facilities that fulfill the diverse needs of the community.”
The organization is working with local government as well as private entities to meet its goals.
