Playtime for All

Children run through the toys with their imagination and excitement two strides ahead of their youthful legs. They slide down from the make-believe castle while friends on the other side of the area crawl through a “tunnel,” a plastic chute that stimulates the vision of being a conquering hero.

Meanwhile, a child on the perimeter of the play area has to push his imagination harder because his wheelchair or walker doesn't maneuver the small gravel well, and the young mom on the far corner has frustrations of her own because the stroller doesn't move through gravel well either, leaving her to choose between pushing through the gravel, or one child out of reach while the other is alone in the stroller.

Madi Wilkinson and Ally Benzel want to bring everyone together with a playground design that is more welcoming. Wilkinson and Benzel are working with others in the community to design a playground welcoming for everyone.

“We're probably a group of about 10 right now,” Wilkinson said.

Their goal is to expand and include as many interested parties as possible.

“We're trying to create a destination park,” Ally Benzel said in the Dec. 8 Zoom Sidney City Council meeting.

The design is the same size as the existing play area at Legion Park.

“The park that we have now is pretty much the same footprint,” Wilkinson said after the meeting.

They are working with two design companies to secure a design that will serve the mobility-challenged population. The hope is for the design to be finalized by February, and the first stage of fundraising met by Spring 2021. They are meeting with businesses and organizations in the effort to gain support.

The goal is to replace the existing play area at Legion Park with equipment more inclusive for all ages and abilities. Cost of the project is estimated at about $750,000. Benzel and Wilkinson say the project will not be funded with City funds or tax dollars. They have teamed up with Kids Plus, a 501(c)3 nonprofit, and are in the fundraising stage to gain funds that can be used for matching grants. Phase 1 is for the organization to earn $50,000 to $100,000 as seen money for future grants.

Phase 2 involves grant applications with a goal of applying for grants to complete the projected needed funds. The hope is to have fundraising completed by the fall of 2021.

The goal is to begin construction in 2022.

“There's nothing in western Nebraska like this,” Benzel said in the council meeting.

No action was taken in the council meeting. Wilkinson and Benzel met with the council to provide an update on the project.

The objectives of the project include increasing accessibility, creating a safe park environment, and creating a destination park. The vision is to also offer more park experiences for children ages 2-5 and 9-12. The equipment for children ages 2-5 will be updated and expanded and equipment for children 9-12 will designed for a challenging and engaging environment for children.

The project has a website called sidneyparkproject.com. Donations can be made by Venmo:@sidneyhparkproject, Paypal to Sidney Park Project, checks to Sidney Park Project at Platte Valley Bank or mailed to Sidney Park Project, PO Box 296, Sidney, NE 69162.

For more information, contact Wilkinson at 308-249-1853.