Ground breaking at Grand Island's Pirnie Inclusive Playground
GRAND ISLAND, Neb. -- Very soon children will be able to enjoy a new inclusive playground at a Grand Island park.
The groundbreaking ceremony for the 27,000-square-foot Pirnie Inclusive Playground took place Monday morning at Ryder Park.
Sue Pirnie said the project is special.
“When this project came along, Tom and I talked about it and decided it would be a good project specially for the handicapped kids, you know with the all-inclusive," Pirnie said. "It's something that we had, I guess, fulfilled a dream for the kids."
The $2.8 million multi-generational playground is named after Grand Island business owner Tom and Sue Pirnie after they donated to the project.
But they weren’t the only ones, it was a community effort of more than 200 donors that raised $1.6 million.
The idea was born after Central Community College students in the Occupational Therapy assistance program were given the task to design a community project for people who aren’t able to participate fully in daily activities.
One of the students involved, Bryan Klinginsmith, said the reaction from the community was beyond expectations.
“Grand Island just really needed a good playground like this, but the overwhelming response from everyone that we talked to was so positive and everyone saw the need and the want for it." Klinginsmith said. "That was such a great feeling to know that something that we were doing was going to make a lasting impression on the community. Those playgrounds should be here for the next 30 years and that’s a lot of kids that are going to be able to play on this.”
The playground will be located just west of the baseball diamond at Ryder Park. It will offer play experiences for three stages of development, including spaces designed specifically for children ages two to five, five to 11 and 12 and up. The playground will also feature zip lines, sensory equipment, obstacle courses and inclusive entry equipment.
The playground is expected to be finished in about two months.