POLSON - A $15,000 donation from the Polson Rotary Club has city parks director Karen Sargeant ready to get to work.

The large donation will go towards making improvements to the Riverside Park playground, a grateful Sargeant said Tuesday during the Rotary Club's weekly luncheon meeting.

"We're going to take out the sand and replace it with a processed wood mulch material," she said. "It's ADA compliant and a kid could fall from up to 10 feet on it and be OK; it's great cushioning."

The improvements will also include adjusting the drainage system, which doesn't effectively remove rainwater. Sargeant said during heavy storms it turns into "a river runs through it," and that new concrete curbing should help channel the water away from the playground. The parks director hopes to begin the project next month, and the changes should only take approximately one month to complete.

Club member Jules Clavadetscher said the organization, dedicated to improving the city of Polson, was more than happy to donate money to the parks department. The funds raised were from the Club's "signature event," an annual chili cook-off and raffle held every August.

"This year's event will generate funds for improvements to the American Legion ball fields here in Polson," Clavadetscher said.

The Polson Rotary Club has 74 members and is celebrating its 70th anniversary in the city this year.