ST. PAUL – A sunny day greeted young children as they climbed, slid, and explored the new playground at Lagasse Park. Laughter could be heard as children played, and the pleasant smell of hotdogs being grilled wafted in the air.
On one area of the playground Jeannine and Matt Pauliny gently pushed the swings, allowing their children to enjoy the breeze of the wind. It was a day of fun and joy for many members of the community during the grand opening celebration held at Lagasse Park on Oct. 7.
While resting, Matt and Jeannine told Lakeland This Week that their family wanted to check out the new playground, but also wanted their kids to interact and play with the other kids. The couple says that taking their children to play outside also keeps them away from electronics.
Jeannine looks toward the direction of her children and says, “they seem to be really enjoying it.”
Steven Jeffery, CAO with the Town of St. Paul says the grand opening was meant to celebrate the replacement and legacy of the playground. He credited the Town’s Public Works department for the work they did to get the playground installed.
He said the Parks and Recreation department has also been vital with the logistics of the project, including coordination, equipment procurement, choosing the site, and “replacing an old, worn-down playground with something brand new” and in tune with the youth.
The playground had a complete overhaul, including removing the former playground, rebuilding the “footprint,” and “everything you see today was all built as one project.”
From a logistical angle, Jeffery said the old playground wasn’t up to the Town’s safety standards. In addition, he said the Town also wanted to revitalize Lagasse Park with a “breathe of fresh air.”
The Town of St. Paul prides itself with the wheelchair access at the park. Jeffery explained the park has engineered wood chips on top, with rubber surface beneath. He said the rubber surface will allow wheelchairs to run on top of it, allowing individuals with disabilities to access and play at the park.
According to Jeffery, the project was funded through Municipal Sustainability Initiative (MSI) funds, so it wasn’t a “financial burden on any of the town residents.”
“It’s just amazing to see all the kids here, all the families, to just being able to gather and enjoy something positive,” he said. “We’re certainly happy.”
Among the attractions at the park include a zipline. Jeffery said the zipline isn’t huge and is made with the safety of the youth in mind.
Coun. Sid Sood was also present and said the playground is great for community engagement as it connects and brings people together, “and to make everyone happy, for sure.”
“We don’t have a zipline in this town and everyone loves ziplines,” said Sood. “When you look at what’s happening right now – everyone’s loving it.”
Coun. Norm Noel, who is also the deputy mayor for the Town of St. Paul, said the municipality has a plan in place to get its parks revitalized. Playgrounds set for upgrades are chosen based on age.
Doing upgrades offers the opportunity to install up-to-date equipment, according to Noel, adding “We want to see more interaction including people with disabilities, young children, or older children.”
Noel said the Town of St. Paul also put forward a joint application with several community partners for a grant to build an outdoor recreation facility. The facility is planned to be located next to Racette Junior High School on main street.
He said the outdoor facility will be a multi-use facility that can be used throughout the year, which will include sports like hockey, basketball, and even tennis.
Noel said he was glad to see such a great turnout at the grand opening.
“That’s what this is about – it’s about the kids.”
