Residents gather for ribbon cutting at all-abilities park

 

Despite the gloomy weather, residents and city officials gathered Sunday at the City County Park for a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the opening of the new Kendyl and Friends All Inclusive Playground, offering children of all abilities a place to come and play.

“If you have ever watched the movie Field of Dreams where they say, ‘If you build it, they will come.’ If you build it they will come folks, and this is the result right here,” City Commissioner Doug Blackford said. “I want to thank two special organizations that we can hold responsible for this, All Abilities and Kendyl and friends. They had a vision back in June that they brought into the parks and recreation board. They laid this out for us and said, ‘would you consider this,’ and it was easy. We went to work immediately with them leading the way and here we stand today in November to open up this great park for everybody.”

Although the playground is complete, the parks and recreation board are still working to complete a handicap bathroom that should be finished within the next four to six weeks, according to Blackford. The playground was completely funded back in June with the Jessamine County Fiscal Court donating the land and the Nicholasville City Commission 100 percent funding the playground. The next step, Blackford said, is moving toward raising funds for a splash pad which will be multi-use for everyone right next to the newly built park. The estimated cost for this project is $400,000.

“It is a real pleasure for me to be out here today as it is a dream come true,” Nicholasville Mayor Peter Sutherland said. “Doug brought this to our board. There was not even a question. It was let’s get this done and it was done overnight. We are so proud to be a part of it and to know that for me it feels good in my heart that we did something for our community and we are not just always bogged down in politics. It is just a blessing.”

Judge Executive David West presented a $10,000 check Sunday from Setzer Properties who he said has issued a challenge to the corporate community in Jessamine County. Owned by Brett Setzer, West said Setzer challenges other business in the community to match his donation or to give a portion because this is a cause Setzer said he believes in.

“It is great to have partnerships, and it is great to have a project that you don’t have to give a second thought to,” West said. “Again, Nicholasville and Jessamine County is leading the way in the Bluegrass by providing a facility like this and there is more to come. We are so proud.”