New benches at Lembi Park symbols of dedication to community service from Rotary Club of Folsom

The pickleball courts at Folsom's Lembi Park are about to have nine shiny new park benches, thanks to the Rotary Club of Folsom and the Folsom Pickleball Club donating funds and work to make this much-needed project a reality. The benches were being installed at the park on the morning of Oct. 4 by workers from the contractor, Earthscapes. While they will be a welcome addition to the park, the benches also will stand as a symbol of the dedication local clubs like Rotary have to community service. The bench project arose when Henry Sundermier, a pickleball player himself and Chair of Community Service for the Rotary Club of Folsom, asked members of the Folsom Pickleball Club if they had a project they needed help with. "I said, 'How can Rotary help?' Because that's what we do," said Sundermier. "And they said, 'We would love to have benches. There's nowhere to sit.' " The clubs got to work on the bench project with the expectation it would become a reality by early next year … but then the Folsom Pickleball Club raised enough funds and found a contractor sooner than expected. The Rotary Club of Folsom donated nine benches, which cost $12,000 altogether. Within just a few weeks the benches were ordered and installed at the park. The benches will make it much better for people to watch the games from various locations around the courts. "They're 15-foot benches. We shopped around and wanted to get something heavy duty, could handle the public. And it's got a really thick coating on it; they should last a long time," said Sundermier. This is one of a long list of community service projects the Rotary Club of Folsom does each year. For instance, in 2024, the club provided Folsom teacher grants, purchased 1,000 dictionaries for every Folsom third-grader, repaired a roof at the Folsom Zoo and bought a gazebo for Black Miners Bar, to name just a handful. The club also provides international help; this year, the club bought a used bus for a Mexico free health clinic. "It's what the Rotary Club of Folsom does; they've been doing it since 1953," said Sundermier. In addition to the park benches, a cement pathway leading down a steep dirt hill to the pickleball courts at Lembi Park was also installed, along with a cement walkway alongside the courts. Those projects were paid for by the Folsom Pickleball Club. The club has also installed hose outlets so they can clean the courts, and lowered the fences to four feet for easier viewing of games. In a time when city budgets are tight, local clubs such as these are taking it upon themselves to maintain the amenities they value. JD Richardson with the Folsom Pickleball Club said this is what their membership fees go toward. "Right now, I think it's $50 for a membership for the year. Well that $50, every dime goes to the courts," said Richardson. "The city doesn't pay for resurfacing; we pay for resurfacing. Since I've been here, any improvement we have wanted to make, the club has paid for." The Rotary Club of Folsom relies on donations to fund community service projects such as the benches at Lembi. This year's main fundraiser is Oktoberfest on Oct. 27 at the Folsom Community Center. Purchase tickets at https://www.tickettailor.com/events/fairoaksrotaryclub/1308512