Park pleasures
By Cindy VotrubaArticle Photos
GARVIN PARK - Seven-year-old Sean Dilley of Minneota was bundled up in his winter coat, hat, mittens and rubber boots Sunday afternoon as he climbed on the stepping stones of the new playground equipment at Garvin Park.
"I've been on it (the playground) three times (before)," Dilley said.
The cold rain and wind didn't keep Dilley from venturing through all areas of the playground, including the scoop shovels in the sand.
The Lyon County Park and Recreation Board had an open house Sunday to formally dedicate the playground that was installed last September by volunteers.
Betsy Desy of the park board said it was recognized that the kids needed a place to play.
"This is our third set we put in here," Desy said. The playground, which cost about $85,000, is located at the main picnic area of Garvin Park.
And kids, such as Dilley, are appreciative of the volunteers' efforts.
"I like almost everything on this playground," Dilley said.
But Dilley likes the zipline most of all, he said.
Four-year-old Tara Roberts of Tracy had her pink coat, snowpants, hat, boots and mittens on. She giggled as her mother, Norma Raymond, followed her around the playground.
Roberts decided to start with the least scary slide, one that was lower to the ground.
After trying out a slide and other equipment, Roberts was ready to go elsewhere.
"I want to go on the swings," Roberts said her her mother.
"She loves playing on the playground," said Diane Raymond, Tara's grandmother. "We come down here quite often."
Heather Engelkist of Slayton said her son Ross has been on the playground a few times.
"He likes the slides," Engelkist said, adding that the playground is another place for Ross to run on, jump and play.
Ross Engelkist was ready to run and jump on the playground, but his parents wanted him to stay where it was dry.
"Let me go," Ross Engelkist said.
Michelle Schultz of Cottonwood said there's something for everyone on the playground.
"This is going to last forever," Schultz said.
Jadyn Lessman was excited to try out the playground equipment. She said she likes the monkey bars.
Jadyn's mother, LuAnn, said her family has noticed the progress in the park.
"We come camping down here, so it's nice to see the updated bridges along with the playground," LuAnn Lessman said.
Jadyn Lessman pulled up her hood and went out on the stepping stones. A few minutes later, her mother came up the playground.
"I don't want to go yet," Jadyn Lessman said.
But mom was freezing, so the two headed for the car.
Holly Kildahl of Burnsville and her friend, Hailee Vraa of Apple Valley, were at the open house and tried out the playground, too. Kildahl's family has a special connection to the park as benches were donated by her family in memory of her grandfather, Eugene Buyck.
"It's very, very nice," Kildahl said about the playground.
"It's cool," Vraa said.
