PORT ANGELES, Wash. — The Dream Playground in Port Angeles announced it will hold a grand opening in two weeks, months after the playground nearly burned to the ground in December.
The Dream Playground Foundation said in a release Wednesday its grand opening will be June 16 at 3 p.m. at the playground's main entrance.
A teenager was arrested for intentionally setting fire to the playground in December. In the weeks after the fire, the nonprofit organization behind the playground's original construction raised $250,000. The City of Port Angeles allocated tax revenue and an insurance payout to help fund what became a $600,000 renovation.
In the past six months, dozens of local businesses, demolition, earthwork and surveying companies, hundreds of volunteer workers and the City of Port Angeles have teamed up for a complete rebuild of the playground. These efforts culminated in a five-day community construction event.
Now the playground needs paver work, swings and final inspections before it is ready to reopen June 16.
“We have been overwhelmed by the community support for this project, and by the participation of everyone from the ages of 2 to 100,” said Steve Methner, Dream Playground Foundation president. “The turf play surface is being finished today, we will be doing finish details for the next 10 days to make it safe and ready for play. Then it’s go time."
The Dream Playground was originally built over seven days in August 2002 by community volunteers. The playground was rebuilt in 10 days by volunteers in 2021 after 19 years.
“We’re looking forward to getting our kids and community back onto the playground that is so important to them,” said Corey Delikat, Port Angeles Parks and Recreation director. “The Foundation’s goal was to have the playground back in action before school is out and people start visiting for the summer, and we worked together to make it happen.”