Lesley Skahan takes a step back from helping with playground construction. She looks at volunteers lifting heavy equipment and a smile appears on her face.
“I can’t believe this is happening,” Skahan, leader of Mothers of Miracles said. “I just can’t wait to see it get done.”
After months of planning, fundraising and dreaming, the MOMs can now breathe a sigh of relief. On Saturday, hundreds of volunteers flocked to Riverside Park to help make a playground for children with special needs a reality.
The construction was originally planned for April 5 but due to hard rain that week the construction was put on hold. The group had planned to work Saturday and Sunday but the weather pushed the group to complete the project all in one day.
“It started to rain early this morning and I got a little worried,” Skahan said. “But today is a great day.”
The rain held off and the sun came out to give the group perfect building conditions. Volunteers from organizations, City of Iola departments and neighboring communities came out to make sure the playground got finished by day’s end.
“We have had great support from the community both monetarily and help-wise,” Mike Ford said.
Ford said he was ready to see it be finished. The construction began at 8 a.m. and went as long as needed to get the project done.
Ford said that although the playground may look complete to children now, they will have to wait just a little bit longer. A synthetic ground cover has yet to be spread around the base of the equipment. It will be fully completed and open on June 1. The group asks the community to please stay off the equipment until then.
