Kennewick Playground of Dreams 2.0 WISHLIST
The Playground of Dreams in Columbia Park is getting a makeover. Lets just throw it out there: Regardless of cost or even feasibility, what would be AWESOME?
Motorized zip line? Hot tubs in splash area? American ninja course? 50 foot slides?
We can dream. Playground of Dreams.
My ex-wife and I purchased one of the pickets in fence that surrounds the playground when they were first available for sale to honor our soon-to-be-born first child. That was in 1999, and the Playground of Dreams was built by about 1000 volunteers the weekend of September 11-12, 1999. Arsonists torched the original in 2003, only to have many of the volunteers who built it the first time around, come back to build it again in 2004.
The Playground of Dreams could be replaced next year under a plan officials in the city of Kennewick are formulating. The plan would be a contemporary makeover better serving kids with both intellectual and physical disabilities. Materials have come a long way, so have attitudes about fun for all moving forward.
The Playground of Dreams was closed for a couple of months last year while workers replaced decking and made other repairs, part of a $30,000 renovation to keep the structure up to safety codes. It's time to take it to the next level.
$325,000 has been earmarked for a new structure in the biennial Kennewick budget, fundraising is next with potential naming rights and other sponsoring opportunities.
Read more here.