PHILLIPS — The work to install $222,000 of new playground equipment is now underway at Elk Lake Park in Phillips, according to a press release from the Elk Lake Park Playground Committee. The playground will be installed quickly for the kids to enjoy but the fundraising effort continues with $57,000 still needed to complete the campaign.
The existing playground equipment, installed in the mid-1990s, was predominantly made of wood and was showing signs of aging, according to playground fundraising committee member Kristen Harper in the press release. The playground was sold at auction and once the buyer removed the equipment on July 8-9 the new equipment was brought in on a trailer and is now being installed.
The upgrade is part of the committee’s ongoing mission to continue making Elk Lake Park a destination recreation area for area residents and visitors. The new “northwoods-themed” playground was designed in collaboration with Landscape Structures, and will feature an array of equipment suitable for children of all ages and is in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act standards. The total project cost is, which includes installation and partial poured rubber flooring.
The new playground will feature a large square layout for children aged 5 to 12, including three types of slides, a bridge, a climbing web, a rock wall, and 10 ways to enter the play area. Additional attractions include a find-the-animal-tracks board, freestanding saddle spinner seats, a log balance beam, upgraded tire swings, regular swings, a baby swing, a molded bucket seat swing, and a ground-level music feature. For younger children aged 2 to 5, the playground will include three slides, two entry points with a kid’s club roof, and appropriate height adjustments for their safety.
The new playground will remain in the same area as the previous playground, with a combination of engineered wood chips and poured rubber for surfacing. The playground will be made of 17% recycled content, and through Landscape Structures’ Carbon Footprint program, 42 trees will be planted via the American Forests program, according to the press release.
The fundraising received a $100,000 boost from a Price County Public Health’s American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) grant in November 2023, according to Harper. This provided the down payment on the new equipment that was then delivered with help from Dragovich Transport and Mitch Delasky Trucking on July 14. The committee has so far raised $163,000 toward the $222,000 completion goal.
A final fundraising push will commence through July and August. Activities include a Touch-A-Truck event, a booth at Music in the Park on Thursdays, and chocolate bar sales around Phillips. Donors contributing $250 or more will be recognized on a donor recognition board to be installed upon project completion.
Elk Lake Park has undergone significant enhancements throughout the years, starting with a lighted walking path, boat launch, basketball court, and event pavilion with bathroom facilities, according to Harper. In the last five years improvements include Forward Splash Pad, Prevail Stage, a second basketball court and a disc golf course.
The playground upgrade is the next exciting step in this transformation, she said.
For more information on the project and how to contribute, visit the booth at Music in the Park, stop by Phillips City Hall, or contact Harper at 715-820-0118 or kristen@cabincreationswi.com.
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