Avinger Community Park transformed by American Electric Power service team

AVINGER, Texas ( KETK ) – Avinger Community Park recently got some powerful new additions thanks to one electricity provider’s service team.

American Electric Power’s Regional Service Organization West group made it their goal for the year to transform the park with a new 20-foot pavilion, repainted and relocated playground equipment and an enhanced pollinator garden.

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

“This means so much to our community,” 1936 Study Club president Gale Brown said. “We envision children celebrating their birthdays in this pavilion, and the newly painted playground equipment will be a delight for the community children. The entire town is thrilled.”

Avinger was chosen for this year’s project so the group could host their annual summer meeting at the nearby Wilkes Power Plant, which is operated by SWEPCO, an American Electric Power company.

“It was an honor to host this group at Wilkes Power Plant,” said Pete Civitarese, plant manager
at Wilkes Power Plant. “We are incredibly proud of the community service project they
undertook, including expanding the garden, painting playground equipment, and building a
pavilion at the community park. These efforts not only enhance our community but also reflect
the spirit of collaboration and commitment to making a positive impact. Thank you to everyone
involved for your hard work and dedication.”

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

“This is a fantastic group,” Brian Sherrick, vice president of generation shared services at AEP said. “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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