Hastings cuts ribbon on Crosier Park playground, announces new communication board

HASTINGS, Neb. — The Hastings community is celebrating its most unique park.

The city and the Hastings Community Foundation cut the ribbon on the Crosier Park playground Tuesday afternoon. The 10,000 square foot inclusive playground opened in 2021 and ADA restrooms and a shelter were added last year.

Director of Parks and Recreation Jeff Hassenstab says it’s designed to appeal to all kids.

“Older kids socialize with younger kids. Really, it doesn’t matter your ability. You can be in a wheelchair, it doesn’t matter," Hassenstab said. "So, that’s really the cool thing is the interaction that all the kids are getting.”

The 20-foot-tall tower was the tallest playground feature in the state when it opened. It’s been one of the reasons kids keep coming back.

“It’s exceeded my expectations," Hassenstab said. "I knew it would be big, but I’ve never seen this amount of people. Even when it’s 35 degrees out, they’re coming here to play.”

But don’t just take Hassenstab’s word for it.

“We love it.”

“It’s the best park ever.”

The Crosier Park playground will soon add another inclusive feature, a low-tech communication board with symbols to help kids who struggle to communicate verbally.

“So a child, when they have a communication intent, will come and point to their symbol in order to convey their message," speech-language pathologist Sydney Norton said.

Sydney Norton is a speech-language pathologist and came up with the idea when visiting the park with her son. Her and her colleagues wrote a grant through the Hastings Community Foundation and the foundation’s Key Society paid for the board.

“We’re thinking about these kiddos with speech and language disorders," Norton said. "We’re thinking about these kiddos who have all kinds of disabilities and that we want to hear what they have to say and we want them to be a part of our fun.”

The city will install the communication board in about a month.

The total cost of the park project was $850,000 with $700,000 coming from the city.