Sliding into town: Little Tikes to feature Paxton playground in catalog

PAXTON, Ill. (WCIA) — Paxton’s new quarter-million-dollar playground was installed in April at Pells Park; and this fall, it’ll be getting more attention than just the kids in town.

The newly installed structure is being featured in a catalog for Little Tikes.

“They feature somebody — somebody who’s had a play structure — and they put that in the catalog,” said Paxton Mayor Bill Ingold. “And it goes out worldwide for people that are interested in the Little Tikes place structures.”

Three of the newly installed items are from Little Tikes. Ingold said he was contacted by a spokesman from the company last week and this morning. A photographer will stop by this fall to take pictures to feature in the magazine.

“They said, you know, if we could have some kids out here playing on it, that’d be great. They want to see it,” Ingold said.

The Claxton family has been playing on it too.

“I guess I never envisioned that this really would get on the map in such a significant way, but yeah, that’s pretty neat,” Nick Claxton said.

He said parents love the area almost as much as their kids.

“I’m just thankful to live in a community where there’s a safe place to come where they can do something, where they’re not stuck in front of the screens all day and they can get some exercise outdoors,” Claxton added.

Ingold said the progress and attention is reflective of the work that’s been put in across Paxton.

“It’s a good deal,” Ingold said. “For years and years and years I’ve talked about, you know, we have to have something to do with how do you want to bring people to town.”

The playground area was paid for through a state grant. Ingold says the city paid around $25,000. Ingold says the photographer will drop by to take pictures between August and October.

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