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Playland
The idea of Playland located at Roeding Park was the
brainchild of the late Dr. Joe Logan. Joe Logan was
the president of North Fresno Rotary Club during
1954-55. In the spirit of community service, Dr.
Logan conceived the idea of developing a “playland”
with rides on city property, the profits from which
would go to provide funds for additional park
facilities in the City of Fresno. A lease was agreed
upon with the city and Playland was constructed in
record time and was opened to the public on May 30,
1955. Playland was an immediate success and netted
profits of $33,000 in the first year of operation.
Playland in the past 51 years has been an invaluable
piece of the Central Valley’s heritage.
Storyland
Fresno Storyland opened to the public May 19, 1962
and immediately captured the hearts of children all
across the valley. A park devoted to fantasy and
fairy tales was a wonderful addition to Roeding
Park. Originally funded by the city of Fresno and
Junior League of Fresno, the Fresno Storyland &
Rotary Playland boards joined forces in April of
1994 when Storyland was near extinction. Rotary
Playland donated $100,000 to preserve the Fresno
treasure and it has continued to be a place of
fantasy and wonder for children today. This year,
Rotary Storyland celebrates it’s 45th Anniversary.
Community Involvement:
Besides being a wonderful place for families to
affordably spend time together, Rotary Storyland &
Playland has contributed well over 2 million dollars
to the community in the past 50 years. Some of the
most notable contributions given by Storyland &
Playland were an $80,000 donation given to the City
of Fresno to purchase the land for Woodward Park in
1965, a donation of $64,000 given to the City of
Fresno to create Logan Park in 1973, a donation of
$190,000 given to the Fresno Metropolitan Museum in
1982 & over $500,000 given to the Fresno Zoo (Now
Chaffee Zoological Gardens) over the past 30 years.
Rotary Storyland & Playland has been committed to
generously giving back to our community in the past
50 years.
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