News Release
Local residents looking for the perfect holiday gift now have a unique option. This week, the North Platte Community Build Playground Fundraising Committee began their fundraising efforts with fence picket sponsorships.
The customizable, tax-deductible pickets, available for a minimum $50 per picket donation, will build the fence that will line the future playground at Centennial Park, located at the intersection of Oak St. and Francis St. The playground is tentatively scheduled to be built by community volunteers September 2021.
The playground committee has partnered with Playgrounds by Leathers, a national company that has worked with communities to build a total of approximately 3,350 playgrounds across the country designed to maximize outdoor play and children’s imaginations.
The group, led by co-chairs Emily Wurl and Tauni Morris, started the project in October, working with the children of Kids Klub, North Platte. As part of the process, local children were asked to design the playground of their dreams. The Playgrounds by Leathers playground designers incorporated the children’s drawings and historical aspects of the North Platte community to create a one-of-a-kind imaginative outdoor space.
The future children’s play area will offer an ADA-inclusive playground to North Platte and will feature 40 components, including a replica of the North Platte “Canteen” Depot, a 1940s vintage car, a rock wall, a wobbly bridge, and train with a caboose.
“Eight hundred pickets are available, with each being used to build the fence that goes around the playground,” said JoAnna Markiewicz, playground volunteer and picket donation lead. “The minimum $50 donation pickets will include engraved names of those that the pickets are gifted to. The picket sponsorships will make excellent gifts for parents and grandparents searching for great gift ideas,” said Markiewicz.
In addition to picket donations, the fundraising committee will look to component sponsorships, grants, memorial brick sales, events and private donations to raise the $334,000 needed to bring the playground to life.
To donate toward a picket or learn more about the project, go to WeBuildNP.org.
North Platte Community Build Playground fundraising committee includes local volunteers Abbie Pack, Ann Marie Baker, Colton Albrecht, DeeJay January, Emily Garrick, Fiona Libsack, Gwen Covey, JoAnna Markiewicz, Lisa Warren and Melissa Mitchell.