Sartell approves final proposal for inclusive playground at Lions Park

Becca Most, St. Cloud Times
·2 min read

SARTELL ― The Sartell City Council on Monday night unanimously approved the final proposal of the first all-inclusive playground in the region at Lions Community Park. The playground will be created with people with disabilities in mind and will have a padded ground cover, be accessible for wheelchairs and mobility scooters and have other playground features that will be accessible for children of all abilities.

The project is part of a joint effort between the Sartell Lions, Le Sauk Lions and St. Stephen Lions, as well as the Sartell-St. Stephen School District and th city of St. Stephen. The nearest park with similar features is in Willmar, just over 60 miles from Sartell.

The Lions Community Park upgrades will take place in 2023 or 2024, pending fundraising results. The Lions Clubs have been fundraising for the playground for three years and are very likely to receive a $100,000 matching grant from the Lions Clubs International Foundation given the project is fully funded, said LeSauk Township Area Lions Club Treasurer Jim Muellenbach at Monday's meeting.

The project is expected to cost about $340,000 for a 6,000-square-foot playground. The Lions Club has raised $160,000 and will be asking Sartell for $65,000, as well as $27,000 in in-kind services, Muellenbach said. Because the Lions Clubs International Foundation grant requires the project be fully funded, he asked the city give a letter of commitment to pay $110,000, although the city will only pay $65,000 in total once they receive the grant and the Lions Club will fundraise the difference, Muellenbach said.

More:Lions Club building inclusive playground with Sartell schools

The current playground equipment at Lions Community Park in pictured Wednesday, May 11, 2022, in Sartell. Area Lions clubs are partnering with the school district to build a new inclusive playground at the site.
The current playground equipment at Lions Community Park in pictured Wednesday, May 11, 2022, in Sartell. Area Lions clubs are partnering with the school district to build a new inclusive playground at the site.

Future fundraising of an accessible restroom and additional parking may also be considered, said Sartell City Administrator Anna Gruber at the meeting.

You can donate to support the project on GoFundMe at https://www.gofundme.com/f/Sartell-Inclusive-Park-Project?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=p_cp+share-sheet.

Becca Most is a cities reporter with the St. Cloud Times. Reach her at 320-241-8213 or bmost@stcloudtimes.com. Follow her on Twitter at @becca_most. 

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This article originally appeared on St. Cloud Times: Sartell approves final proposal for inclusive playground at Lions Park