The Rotary Club of Foothill-Highlands’ board members unveil their latest park improvements at Freedom Park May 30.

 

RIO LINDA, CA (MPG) – New picnic tables, barbeques and surface improvements were unveiled to the public on May 29 as part of the Rotary Club of Foothill-Highlands’ latest Freedom Park improvements. The park, located at 5931 Recreation Way in McClellan Park has been an area of focus for the club, with the installation of the bocce ball court last year.

Miguel Benitez, president elect of the club described the park improvements to be the club’s “bread and butter.”

“We love doing stuff for the community,” Benitez said.

Representatives of elected officials including Natalya Sachuk representing Assemblyman Josh Hoover, Andre Favila representing Senator Angelique Ashby, and Forrest Jones representing Congressman Ami Bera were present at the park projects unveiling.

The club, comprised of approximately 15 members, focuses on youth and community outreach in the unincorporated communities of Antelope, North Highlands, Foothill Farms, Rio Linda and Elverta. Its motto of “Service Above Self” is exemplified through hands-on volunteerism, charitable fundraising and collaborative partnerships, including with the North Highlands Parks and Recreation District.

Five individuals began volunteering in this part of Sacramento more than 20 years ago forming the Rotary Club of Foothill-Highlands. One of those members is Dominic Mecklenburg, 2024-25 club president, a former bank manager at Umpqua Bank in Antelope.

“Before I worked in Antelope, the reputation is all I was aware of,” Mecklenburg said. “It wasn’t favorable.”

The park, located at 5931 Recreation Way in McClellan Park has been an area of focus for the club, with the installation of the bocce ball court last year.

Most of the founding members do not live in the region they serve, however, they felt this area needed it the most, according to Mecklenburg. The organization has developed strong relationships with teachers, legislators, parents and residents, Mecklenburg said.

“I’ve volunteered more in this zip code than where my kids went to school,” Mecklenburg said.

Another focus of the club is literacy. The club holds speech contests to promote literacy among youth, inviting members of the community to judge the contests.

Each year, the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) awards $1,000 scholarships for students to attend five-day summer camps, where teens surrender their phones and spend time building friendships and gaining leadership skills. According to Mecklenburg, the camp is a transformative experience for participants who return with a toolbox of new skills.

The rotary club fixed a picnic table in Freedom Park that previously had a piece missing according to Benitez.

While the Foothill-Highlands chapter focuses mostly on the Sacramento region, the club brings refurbished electronics including laptops and cell phones to children across the world in the Philippines through past president Teresa B. Ferrer, who returns each year to her native country.

“We’re an international organization but, of course, we like to focus locally,” Mecklenburg said.

Upcoming projects in Freedom Park, pending approval, include the installation of a peace pole, a monument-type structure featuring different languages present in the North Highlands community.

The club meets on Mondays at 12:15 p.m. at the Lions Gate Hotel, 3410 Westover St, McClellan Park. For more information or to get involved, visit: www.foothillhighlandsrotary.org/ or visit The Rotary Club of Foothill-Highlands Facebook page.