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A group of children play on the All Together Inclusive Playground during the opening evening Thursday. Ayanna Eckblad/Albert Lea Tribune

All Together Albert Lea Inclusive Playground Committee co-chair Kara Paulson shares some opening remarks at the park's grand opening ceremony Thursday. Ayanna Eckblad/Albert Lea Tribune

Albert Lea Mayor Rich Murray thanks the community for their ongoing support during the All Together Albert Lea Inclusive Playground's opening ceremony Thursday. Ayanna Eckblad/Albert Lea Tribune

All Together Albert Lea Inclusive Playground Committee members and Albert Lea Mayor Rich Murray celebrated the opening of the inclusive playground Thursday evening at Edgewater Park. Ayanna Eckblad/Albert Lea Tribune

A boy plays on the All Together Inclusive Playground during the opening evening Thursday. Ayanna Eckblad/Albert Lea Tribune

There are several musical elements in the park, including drums, chimes and a xylophone. Sarah Stultz/Albert Lea Tribune

One piece of equipment allows people in wheelchairs to be wheeled in to a platform and then swing. Sarah Stultz/Albert Lea Tribune

Children enjoy checking out the equipment Thursday evening. Sarah Stultz/Albert Lea Tribune

After years of fundraising and months of construction, the All Together Albert Lea Inclusive Playground on Thursday officially launched to the public with a grand opening ceremony at Edgewater Park. This came after a walk fundraiser around Edgewater Park.

Many families with children of all ages and abilities attended to see the new setup, listen to the playground committee share future plans, and buy treats from the bake sale.

Sarah Stultz, All Together Albert Lea Inclusive Playground Committee co-chair, shared a few words about the playground during the ceremony.

“Each donation has been important,” Stultz said. “At first I don’t think we realized what we were getting into when we committed to raising the million dollars, over a million, but thanks to you we have achieved this goal.”

Specifically, Stultz thanked the city of Albert Lea and Freeborn County, who together contributed $450,000 to get the project started. She also thanked the community’s service clubs, who donated and fundraised over $95,000.

“We are blessed in this community to have many generous organizations and businesses, and we would be here for quite some time if we listed off all who donated,” she said.

Stultz thanked Flagship Recreation, who the committee worked with to design the park, and Larson Contracting, who was the general contractor for the project.

Committee Co-Chair Kara Paulson shared plans for the next phases for the group, including building a Miracle Field for people of all abilities to play baseball together. It will be similar to a Miracle Field currently open in Owatonna. There are also plans to eventually install handicap accessible restrooms and changing stations. Additionally, a donor wall will be built at the park, and bricks that people purchased during the fundraising phase will be installed.

“Thank you to all for making this project a reality, and for the hope that you give others through this project,” Stultz said.

Albert Lea Mayor Rich Murray also shared his gratitude during the ceremony.

“A project like this takes the whole community, chipping in, helping out,” he said. “It took everybody to make this a reality.”

Murray explained that a community is known by the activities it can provide to its residents, and he went on to say that the All Together Inclusive Playground will be a great activity space in the community for many years to come. He added he hopes Albert Lea can be an example for other communities to look to for similar projects in the future.

“The work’s not done. We have more to do,” he said. “So let’s come together as a community and let’s see this through.”

Parents and caregivers also had positive things to say about the inclusive playground.

Kalaria Orozco, who has two young children, said that out of all the parks the family has visited, this one feels the most appropriate for her 3-year-old.

“I feel comfortable as she is playing on it,” Orozco said.

Adrian McNichols said she was made aware of the inclusive playground from Julie Nafzger, a committee member, from the inception of the project.

“Just being able to have kids who don’t usually get to play to be able to play. The all-inclusive part is the best,” said McNichols, whose 2-year-old daughter, Paytyn, uses a wheelchair.

Brian Tomlinson, father to a 4-year-old daughter, said he is excited that more people from the community will now have the opportunity to enjoy the park system in Albert Lea.

“[I’m] mostly excited to have another option for kids to play at,” he said. “I think we have really good parks here in Albert Lea, so another good one added to the list is always exciting. And what better than a park that allows more than just kids who are able-bodied to come and enjoy everything.”

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