The Rotary Club of Perry has made significant progress on the building of the new playground in Wiese Park. 

Rotary President Dirk Cavanaugh says that this new playground will be ADA (American Disabilities Act) compliant and accessible to children with handicaps. Cavanaugh explains they started construction in the spring, and they have prepped the site along with pouring the concrete. Cavanaugh mentions that the construction now involves installing the equipment, and in a couple of weeks they will install the safety aspect of the playground. 

“Part of the accessibility of it is there’s a sprayed-on rubber safety mat that gets put on after everything else is installed. And that way the wheelchairs and such can access it along with all the other kids who can just walk on the nice surface. And if someone happens to fall off a piece of equipment, then they hit a nice soft piece of rubber to protect them from the fall.”

Cavanaugh says that after a few years of fundraising and then having the project delayed because of the pandemic it’s nice to finally see shovels in the ground. 

“We came out of Covid. The price had bumped up, and so our fundraising had to increase. Then it seemed like over the last year with the grant cycles the way they are, we get one and then we’d reevaluate and price has gone up again. So now we need to fundraise a little more. So we are finally there. It’s going in and we’re really excited and I think the community is really going to like it.” 

Cavanaugh notes the project is expected to be completed in September.