The Pierz City Council meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 12 was filled with exciting news for the local community: the Pierz Area Commercial Club has stepped up with a generous donation to enhance the beloved Pierz Park with a variety of new playground equipment and amenities.
Representing the Commercial Club, Amber Cekalla presented the Council with detailed plans for the donation, which includes several fun and engaging elements that are sure to delight children of all ages. Among the items proposed were chute and ramp play panels, dinosaur sculptures for children to climb on, a gaga ball pit, a “Gym-I-Nee Goal,” a Cedar Mountain climber, a shaded cabana structure, a caterpillar and log-themed, child-sized tunnel and a small, elevated river structure.
“We’re raising funds because we want to make this a better community,” Cekalla said. “We do some fundraising, and we’re just trying to find a place to spend that money.”
The City Council enthusiastically approved the Commercial Club’s donation plans, with Mayor John Perleberg praising the group’s ongoing efforts to enhance the community’s recreational offerings.
“Part of the reason why they do all this is so they can donate funds back to the community,” Perleberg said. “So when you see them doing all these different events here, they’re not only bringing business into town, but they’re also raising funds for us.”
In addition to the playground items, the Commercial Club is also exploring the possibility of improving the pathway leading to the park’s dam area, which currently has some uneven and sharp granite that can be tricky for visitors, especially the elderly and young children, to navigate safely. The Council expressed openness to working collaboratively with the club on this project as well, recognizing the importance of ensuring easy and secure access to all areas of the popular community gathering space.
Members of the Council looked over the various options for park equipment. The chute and ramp play panels somewhat resemble the game of Plinko, with children being able to drop water or small objects into the panels and watch them fall down a series of ramps. The dinosaur sculptures are small enough for children to safely climb on top.
The gaga ball pit is surrounded by a short circle fence with sand or dirt filled in the middle. Children can then play the popular game gaga ball, which somewhat resembles dodgeball in terms of how it is played. The Gym-I-Nee goal is a tall goal children shoot basketball-sized balls into, with four extended-length shoots where the ball could possibly fall out of. The cedar mountain climber is a small rock-climbing ramp for children to safely play on.
The cabana sail shade would be a welcome addition to many parents, who could watch their children play while taking some respite from the sun. The caterpillar and log tunnels allow children to play any number of games, from tag to hide and seek. Finally, the elevated river structure allows children to dump water and water-related toys such as toy boats into it, creating a stream for them to play in.
The Council decided that the log tunnel was preferred to the caterpillar one to blend in more with the natural setting. There was also enthusiasm about putting some of the items in the water area, such as the Gym-I-Nee goal and dinosaur sculptures.
Council Member Jacque Johnson expressed some hesitation at first about the gaga ball pit.
However, she ultimately agreed that it would be a good addition to the park after being assured that the game was safe, those wanting to play would have to check balls out and in and the pit could be packed up and put away during the winter months.
The Pierz Area Commercial Club’s donation is the result of its efforts to raise funds through a variety of community events and initiatives, including the popular Freedom Fest celebration. By channeling those proceeds back into projects that directly benefit Pierz residents, the club aims to make a tangible difference in the lives of people of all ages.
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