An effort is underway to replace a beloved playground in Berrien Springs.
Village community engagement coordinator Jennifer Marren tells us the difficult decision to take down the Wolf’s Prairie Playground at Grove Park was made over the summer, simply due to its age.
“The previous one surpassed its life,” Marren said. “It was a wooden playground, a community build, and it was just time. It was time. It was time to get a new one. And it’s been a staple in the community…I myself grew up playing on that playground. So everybody, whether they played on it, their children or now grandchildren, it was a huge staple for multiple generations, two decades in the community.”
The village then began seeking input from children on what they’d like to see in the playground’s replacement.
“We did an event where we asked the kids to come and draw what their dream playground would be. And what we ended up finding, and it was very sweet, and we’ll be sharing this at a later time — the photos — but all of them included a zip line. So they were all aligned, and these kids were coming in throughout the evening. So it’s not like they were all sitting together going, ‘Oh, yes, zip line!’ And so we just were so touched by their drawings. Some included dimensions. I hope these are future architects one day and designers. Others just were asking for a twisty slide, a rock climbing wall, you name it.”
With the zip line being such a common request, Marren says that will be included in the new space, along with swings, a 14-foot tower slide overlooking Lake Chapin, and hand-sculpted elements like a kayak and camping area. She says she’s glad to help create a new play space for all children in the community.
“We don’t have an arcade or a bowling alley, which we would love that in the future, but we knew that this space meant so much because it allows for families to have birthday parties down at the Grove, for the local schools to go and use it as a treat. And it just, overall, it’s one of those destinations, I should say, for our village, but also our surrounding towns and cities even.”
Marren says the playground has been designed with accessibility in mind.
“So there’ll be a ramp system. Kids can play really throughout the entire space. So traditionally it had been like a slide or monkey bars or what have you. There’s actually play elements even integrated to the equipment itself.”
The new equipment has been ordered with $600,000 in funding approved by the Berrien Springs Village Council, and the rest of the project’s cost — expected to reach as high as $1 million — will be reached through community fundraising.
“We’re going to be looking for grants and applying for those, which we are working on currently. And then we also are hoping to invite the community to be a part of it as well. Previously, it was a community build. So now we’re looking for a different way to be able to come together, and so we’re going to be doing a fundraiser here, I think, in April, which we’re really excited about.”
Details will be released soon.
The goal is to have the new playground ready for use by June. Anyone who wants to help support the project can contact the village about making a donation.
Marren says this entire effort has been quite exciting.
“It was my first time helping build or design a playground, and it’s been one of the most rewarding things, growing up in the area to be able to give back and see also the community just get excited about it. We had revealed it on Facebook last night, and I’m so happy. I almost moved to tears that everyone was just so supportive.”
