Wi-Fi Goes Live at Ballfields with Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
- Jacob Dufour | Publisher
- May 22
- 2 min read
This morning, community leaders, local officials, and residents gathered at the Salem Community Park ballfields to celebrate a major step forward in connectivity: the official ribbon cutting for newly installed public Wi-Fi.
Thanks to a partnership between the Washington County Community Foundation, Jackson County REMC, and the City of Salem, patrons of the park can now enjoy free internet access.
The project was made possible through a Digital Towns grant awarded by Regional Opportunities Initiatives, with the goal of expanding digital infrastructure in rural communities.
Salem Mayor Justin Green addressed the crowd before the ribbon was cut. “The more we can do to drive folks into our community, the better we are,” said Green. “Sometimes we think about these little things, and the impact—and this is gonna be one of those that have a large impact. Thank you to everybody who participated in this, and who made it a reality.”
Judy Johnson of the Washington County Community Foundation reflected on the significance of the day. “Do you know what we were doing one year ago today, at this exact moment?” she asked. “Cutting the ribbon for the Wi-Fi on the square. How ironic is that? It wasn’t our intention, but it just worked out that way.”
Johnson emphasized the importance of collaboration. “When the community works together, and groups collaborate, great things can happen. This is certainly an absolute example of that,” she said, giving special thanks to grant writer Lindsey Wade-Swift, Jackson County REMC, and the employees of the City of Salem for their efforts.
Nancy Stidham, Vice President of Cooperative Services at Jackson County REMC, also shared a few words. “Jackson County REMC is really excited to be a partner in this initiative,” said Stidham. “Internet has become an essential service we all have come to depend on, and we are happy to fill this need. We think it’ll be a valuable addition to the community.”
The Washington County Community Foundation, established in 1993, continues to serve as a leader in local philanthropy, connecting donors and resources to long-term community betterment projects.
With today's ribbon cutting, the Salem Community Park joins the city square as a growing network of free Wi-Fi locations helping Washington County residents stay connected.
Love Local News?
The Washington County Times is now completely free for everyone — no paywalls, no subscriptions, just unlimited access to local news. We believe journalism should be accessible to all, but it still takes time and resources to produce. If you value our work, you can support it with a recurring donation. Click below to learn more!
Yorumlar