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COLERIDGE — Coleridge area residents celebrated the completion Sunday of a big project.
“We are here to celebrate something truly meaningful, not just a park but a place where we can all belong,” said Annette Sudbeck, President of the Coleridge Area Fund, at the dedication ceremony of their newly opened, state-of-theart park.
The need for a new park and equipment was first realized in 2016, but it took until 2019 for the Coleridge Area Fund to take up the five-year-long project. Though the park was opened to the public on Nov. 27, 2024, the city held a dedication ceremony June 1 to reflect on what the park means for the village.
“This park was designed with the powerful idea in mind: inclusion. That means every child, every parent, every grandparent, regardless of ability, background, or age, can find joy, connection, and comfort here,” said Sudbeck.
The park design was done by Julie Kutilek through Creative Sites, Omaha, Nebraska. Construction was completed by Dostal Construction out of Lincoln, Nebraska. Along with the donors, they worked to provide a creative, colorful and professional-grade play area.
The equipment contains traditional and inclusive swings, along with a mommy and me swing that allows for a child and an adult to swing at the same time, as well as straight, spiral, and wide slides. The play area has climbing structures such as a climbing net and warped wall. On the ground level, there are interactive play panels with gears, wheels, mirrors and musical instruments, including outdoor drums, chimes and xylophones.
Located around the park are shaded benches and open green spaces for unstructured play. Sudbeck mentioned that if one travels around the outside walking path 16 times will equal a mile.
“We are proud to offer a space where differences are not just accepted but celebrated. Where every child can see themselves reflected in the design and every family can feel at home,” said Sudbeck.
The event itself was a familyfriendly park day, which included free food, face painting, hair gelling and a performance by the Nebraska children’s music band the String Beans.
In total, the park cost $425,000, said Sudbeck. The funds were raised through the five years of fundraisers and numerous family, corporate, and government donations and grants.
One of the many grants they received was an unrestricted endowment through the Nebraska Community Foundation. Representative of the foundation and frequent visitor to the village, Maggie Smith, shared why they support rural communities.
“The community of Coleridge can be whatever you want it to be,” she said. “Our aim is to help you build a tool that will support whatever you want Coleridge to be in the future. Look what you have done, look what you have to be proud of for the thing you have done for your community.”
Sudbeck got choked up when delivering the dedication, sharing how meaningful this park is to the Coleridge community.
“The park reflects the heart of our community. A place that values everyone and values togetherness. It shows that we believe play is for everyone and no one should be left on the sidelines,” said Sudbeck.
