Grand Island, Neb. — The newest state-of-the-art playground in Grand Island will officially host its ribbon cutting event on May 1 at 10:00 a.m.
Crews broke ground on the Pirnie Inclusive Playground at Ryder Park on July 24, 2023. What has developed since is a 27,000-square-foot, $2.8 million facility that offers experiences for three stages of development, including spaces designed specifically for children ages 2-5, 5-11 and 12 and older.
The Central Community College-Grand Island Occupational Therapy Assistant Program created the project as part of a class assignment. From there, the CCC Foundation took over the fundraising operations and raised $1.6 million from 237 total donors. The City of Grand Island then committed $1.25 million for infrastructure upgrades.
“This playground represents Grand Island’s longstanding tradition of people working together to make things happen,” Mayor Roger Steele said. “The upcoming ribbon cutting is a testament to that effort and will be a prideful day for the City of Grand Island.”
Immediately following the ribbon cutting, the Grand Island Tree Board will also be demonstrating how to properly plant a tree as part of the city’s Arbor Day recognition. The demonstration will be held near the new playground. The event is open to the public.
