A Melbourne milestone
New playground equipment installed as fundraising focus shifts to ‘big park’ for trio of local moms
T-R PHOTOS BY ROBERT MAHARRY Melbourne residents Beth Opperman, Kelsey Bracy and Jessica Horn, flanked by Bracy’s son Cameron and Horn’s sons Emmett and Laykin, pose for a photo with some of the new playground recently installed at the small park near the Little League Field on Thursday evening. The trio has led the fundraising efforts and are now shifting their attention toward the larger playground at Smoke Meier park.
Opperman, Bracy and Horn hope to raise $400,000 for new equipment at the larger playground near the swimming pool.
T-R PHOTOS BY ROBERT MAHARRY Melbourne residents Beth Opperman, Kelsey Bracy and Jessica Horn, flanked by Bracy’s son Cameron and Horn’s sons Emmett and Laykin, pose for a photo with some of the new playground recently installed at the small park near the Little League Field on Thursday evening. The trio has led the fundraising efforts and are now shifting their attention toward the larger playground at Smoke Meier park.
Opperman, Bracy and Horn hope to raise $400,000 for new equipment at the larger playground near the swimming pool.
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MELBOURNE -- About 4 ½ months ago, the T-R first spoke with three Melbourne mothers -- Jessica Horn, Kelsey Bracy and Beth Opperman -- about their ongoing efforts to raise money for new playground equipment in their small but mighty southwestern Marshall County of approximately 800 residents. On Thursday evening, they officially removed the caution tape around the smaller playground near the Little League Fields, and now, they will turn their attention toward the larger task of raising approximately $400,000 to install new equipment at the larger playground at Smoke Meier Memorial Park adjacent to the swimming pool.
"I wouldn't call it easy, but having three normal people wanting to make this happen and being able to do that is pretty special," Bracy said.
The group raised approximately $40,000 for the first project through a variety of sources, including meals in conjunction with the local American Legion, donations from other local businesses and civic organizations, a calendar fundraiser and even an individual reaching out, asking how much was still needed, and writing a check for that exact amount.
"We were surprised how fast this one went up. We didn't think it was gonna be this quick," Opperman said.
Play-Pro Recreation installed the Little Tikes equipment over the span of a few days earlier this week.
"We're super excited. We have, like, three or four daycares in town, so this is gonna be really great for them too," Horn said.
The new playground replaces the plastic portable equipment that had been donated previously, and now, a larger task awaits -- replacing the worn out equipment at the larger playground to be inclusive and Americans with Disability Act (ADA) compliant. They have already received a $5,000 commitment from the city of Melbourne, and they'll be selling t-shirts and sweatshirts, applying for more grants and exploring other fundraising options.
Melbourne Mayor Cynthia "Boo" Mansager told the T-R she was excited about the news of the equipment going up and can't wait to see what comes next.
"We were so delighted with Jessica Horn’s initiative and that of her committee, to bring this playground park improvement project together. Jessica spearheaded the project in all respects, and other than asking for, and receiving, the Council’s blessings, the City’s administration had no other involvement," she said. "The entire project from initial idea to fundraising to completion is testimony to what civic engagement can accomplish. We couldn’t be more pleased and appreciative of the committee’s dedication to improving the Melbourne City Parks for our kids and visitors."
Donations can be made out to the city of Melbourne at City Hall, and anyone interested in following the project and future fundraising efforts can visit the Melbourne IA Community Playground Project Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61587832349086.
Contact Robert Maharry at (641) 753-6611 ext. 255 or rmaharry@timesrepublican.com.