AVINGER, Texas (KETK) – Avinger Community Park recently received some powerful new additions thanks to an electric utility’s service team.

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American Electric Power’s Regional Service Organization West group set a goal this year to transform the park with a new 20-foot-tall gazebo, repainted and relocated playground equipment, and an improved pollinator garden.

Over 20 people from four different states worked with Avinger’s 1936 Study Club to renovate the park.

“This means so much to our community,” said Gale Brown, president of the 1936 Study Club. “We envision children celebrating their birthdays in this gazebo, and the freshly painted playground equipment will be a joy to the children of the community. The whole town is excited.”

Avinger was selected for this year’s project so that the group could hold its annual summer meeting at the nearby Wilkes Power Plant, operated by SWEPCO, an American power company.

“It was an honor to host this group at the Wilkes Power Plant,” said Pete Civitarese, Plant Manager
at the Wilkes power plant. “We are incredibly proud of the charitable project that they
carried out, including the extension of the garden, painting of the playground equipment and the construction of a
Pavilion in the community park. These efforts not only enrich our community, but also reflect
the spirit of collaboration and commitment to making a positive impact. Thank you to all
for your hard work and dedication.”

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This is the second year the group has done a community project during their annual summer meeting. Last year they helped a Tulsa nursing facility by fencing in their back porch and also built a wheelchair ramp for a local resident.

“This is a fantastic group,” said Brian Sherrick, vice president of Generation Shared Services at AEP. “We all live and work in these communities and it’s a wonderful opportunity to support them not only from a Generation Power perspective, but also to give back in a more personal way.”

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