Katie Soto, a co-chair for the Pirnie Inclusive Playground, cuts the ribbon as donors Tom and Sue Pirnie watch, (Carol Bryant, Central Nebraska Today)
GRAND ISLAND – More than 100 people attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony Wednesday, May 1, for the Pirnie Inclusive Playground at Ryder Park.
Traci Skalberg, executive director of the Central Community College Foundation, said the total cost of the playground was $2.8 million. More than 260 people donated to the project. Tom and Sue Pirnie gave the lead gift of $200,000 for the playground. In addition, the city of Grand Island committed $1.25 million in infrastructure upgrades.
“This is really becoming a destination playground,” said Todd McCoy, director of parks and recreation for the city of Grand Island. It is in a great location at Ryder Park because of other features there, including a baseball field and tennis courts. The playground is northwest of the baseball field and covers approximately 24,000 square feet.
McCoy also noted that the playground is close to the EPIC Discovery Center, a children’s museum that is being developed in the old Armory building on Old Potash Highway.
Dr. Marcie Kimnitz, president of Central Community College’s Grand Island campus, was the first in a series of speakers prior to the ribbon cutting.
“The community is our strength,” she said. “This is a testament to the community spirit.”
Bryan Klinginsmith was one of the six occupational therapy assistant students from Central Community College who came up with the idea for the playground. He said it is the largest inclusive playground in the state. In April 2021, the CCC students gave a presentation about the playground to a group of people from Grand Island. That launched the project, and Central Community College’s Foundation became involved.
Tom Pirnie said he first hear about the project through presentations made to the Central Community College Board of Directors and Rotary. Pirnie is a member of the CCC Board of Directors. Tom and Sue Pirnie own Grand Island Express and GIX Logistics.
“This greatly exceeded all of my expectations,” Tom Pirnie said. “It’s truly a community effort. I couldn’t be happier.”
Groundbreaking ceremonies for the playground were in July 2023.
“The project began as a class assignment in Central Community College-Grand Island’s occupational therapy assistant program in early 2021. Students were challenged to create a project in the community that would make a lasting impression throughout the years to help others,” according to a July 2023 CCC news release.
The occupational therapy assistant students received assistance from Dr. Callie Watson, occupational therapy assistant program director.
Melissa DeLaet, chief executive officer of the Greater Grand Island Community Foundation, said, “In Grand Island, we get things done.”
The Community Foundation is the location for an endowment fund for the playground.
Dr. Katie Soto, who works for ESU 9’s professional development team, is co-chair for the committee for the playground.
“It’s just overwhelming. It’s going to be a great place to play together,” she said.
Students from Head Start stood in the background when the ribbon cutting occurred.
