CARY TOWN COUNCIL RENAMES KIDS TOGETHER PARK IN HONOR OF

FORMER COUNCIL MEMBER MARLA DORREL

Playground to be called “Kids Together Playground” at The Marla Dorrel Park

CARY, NC – At their regular meeting on Thursday, May 29, 2008, the Cary Town Council honored former District D Council Member Marla Dorrel by unanimously supporting a resolution renaming Kids Together Park, 111 Thurston Drive, as the “Marla Dorrel Park” and naming the Kids Together Park Playground the “Kids Together Playground” at the Marla Dorrel Park.  Council member Julie Robison presented the surprise resolution to Dorrel on behalf of the Council in recognition of her love for the community and dedication to the development and continued improvement of Kids Together Park.

“There is no greater honor you could give me,” said a visibly moved Dorrel, who was joined at the podium last night by her husband Gary Craven and long-time Cary volunteer Tom Hemrick.

A graduate of Florida International University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Special Education, Dorrel has dedicated much of her professional and civic career to helping all children, regardless of their abilities.  During her eight years as council member from 1999 through 2007, she—along with other community leaders and a number of involved children—established a vision for a Town playground that would be specifically designed and constructed for all children regardless of ability. Also, Dorrel served as the council liaison to the Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources Advisory Board, the first council liaison to the Public Art Advisory Board, and she was actively involved with the Friends of the Page Walker Arts and History Center.  Dorrel has been a Cary resident since 1989.

Dorrel currently serves as president of Kids Together, an all-volunteer, non-profit organization that supports the now renamed Kids Together Park.  In this role, she has led efforts to increase community awareness, raise private funds and gain Town support that culminated in the reality of Kids Together Park in June of 2000.  Since its opening, Kids Together has donated more than $15,000 worth of improvements to the Park, including additional landscaping, a granite map of the park at the entrance, and shade structures.

The park has been recognized with awards for its unique design and is gaining acclaim both nationally and internationally as a new model for accessible play.

As part of the resolution, the Town Council also invited the community to the Kids Together 8^th Birthday Party on Sunday, June 1, 2008 at the Marla Dorrel Park to continue to celebrate the Park and pay tribute to Dorrel.

###