(Exira) New playground equipment is coming to the City of Exira. Thanks to efforts by the Community Club and others, the playground at the Exira Legion Ballpark will be updated very soon.
Abby Rasmussen with the Exira Community Club explains they were happy to pick up where the city council left off. “The main two people in charge of it ended up getting off the city council, so nothing had happened for a while. Our rec renovation project was kind of coming to an ending point at that time so we decided we should just pick it up and get it going.”
Specifically, two main funding sources stepped up to the plate. “The two main donors for it were the Community Foundation through Audubon County and we got two nice grants from them and then we went to the city and asked if there were any funds available. There was a trust fund by the Klever Miller family that had been left specifically for parks and equipment and things like that. Between those two then the Community Club kicked in about $5,000 and we were able to surprise the community when we announced we got this ordered.”
$75,000 in new equipment will be coming to the site this spring. Some of the existing equipment will be upgraded as well. One of the goals was to get something to suit children of all ages. “We really tried to keep that in mind when ordering the equipment and the different things to try and accommodate all ages from the very young kids up to pre-teenagers. We are hoping it will accommodate lots of things during ball games, town events, and when people rent the shelter house.”
Rasmussen says it only took about one year to reach their goal. They expect their order to arrive by the end of April. The Community Club will be seeking volunteers to help install the equipment when it comes in. An additional Audubon Community Foundation Grant will allow for 60X42 foot basketball court to be added to the south of the playground equipment.
