Community Invited to Help Build New Playground
New Glarus is gearing up for an exciting project that will bring joy to families and children for years to come with the construction of a new playground at Candy Cane Park. Equipment has already been ordered and site preparation is well underway. The next crucial step, according to Shelly Johnson, President of New Glarus Cares, is the installation of the playground equipment, which will begin Saturday August 24th.
To manage costs and foster community spirit, the Village of New Glarus, in partnership with New Glarus Cares, is organizing a "community build" for the playground equipment. This collaborative effort will bring together volunteers from across the community.
Johnson emphasized the importance of community involvement. "We are thrilled to see this project moving forward and are incredibly grateful for the support we've received so far," she said. "However, to make this playground a reality, we need the broader community to pitch in. While some construction skills are helpful, there are plenty of ways to contribute."
The community build will kick off at 8 AM on Saturday, August 24th, with members of the New Glarus Fire Department taking the lead on the first day. The remainder of the build will be completed early the following week. Volunteers are needed for a variety of tasks, including checking in volunteers, unpacking crates, moving and organizing parts, serving lunch, and cleaning up.
Johnson encourages everyone to consider volunteering a few hours of their time. "This playground is for everyone, and it's an opportunity for our community to come together and create something special. Even if you can't help with construction, your assistance in other areas will be invaluable."
To ensure enough volunteers for each day, residents are asked to sign up online for one or more shifts using SignUpGenius.com (https://tinyurl.com/CandyCanePark) or by calling New Glarus Cares at 608-205-8715. Lunch will be provided for all volunteers compliments of Mike Nevil, and Chalet Landhaus Restaurant.
Johnson also said that once the playground build is complete and the pour-in-place surfacing is laid, there will be a brief period where the park will remain closed to allow the materials to set and cure. "We ask that everyone stays off the equipment and surface until the fencing is removed to ensure everything is properly set," Johnson added. Security measures will be in place to prevent this, Johnson said, but added that cooperation from everyone will ensure the playground is not damaged before anyone has a chance to use it.
As the project nears completion, the community can look forward to a ribbon-cutting ceremony and a picnic to celebrate the new playground. "We hope everyone will join us for a fun afternoon to mark this wonderful new addition to our community," said Johnson. “We will announce those details later.”
