WILLMAR - Turning 10 is a big deal but Lily Kallevig, a student at Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa, didn't asked for presents or a big party.
"Instead of presents I thought I would give money to the playground," Kallevig said.
The playground she means is the Willmar Destination Playground, the nearly 20,000-square-foot project being planned for Robbins Island.
"I've never seen a 10-year-old step up like this. That impressed us," Dave Baker said. Baker, along with Sara Carlson and Kathy Schwantes, who are all part of the Destination Playground Steering Committee, were on hand to accept the donation from Kallevig last week.
"It is so heartwarming. She is such a neat lady," Schwantes, committee co-chair, said.
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The Destination Playground is a privately funded effort organized by Willmar citizens and inspired by the Wildcat Cove playground in Spicer. The steering committee is hoping to raise $800,000 for the playground, which will then be turned over to the city of Willmar. A community planning session was conducted this summer, and build dates are slated in May.
Most of the money Kallevig collected came from her family. After she brought together $125, her parents, Cindy and Allen Kallevig, matched it, bringing the grand total to $250.
Kallevig said the idea to donate to the playground came to her after the third-grade class from BBE came to Willmar to see the circus. Following the show, the students had lunch at Robbins Island, at the site of the future playground.
"There's not many playgrounds," Kallevig said, at least not as large as the one being planned for Robbins Island.
Kallevig wanted to do her part to make sure the project succeeded. In addition to her donation, she is also a member of the children's committee and contributed her ideas for the playground design during this summer's planning session. When the park is open to the public - it is hoped by Willmar Fests in June - Kallevig is looking forward to playing on the spider bouncer.
Kallevig's donating to the playground is not a surprise to her family.
"We're a very civic-minded family. It was exciting when she took this step to give back to here community," Cindy Kallevig said.
The gift from Lily Kallevig and her family will join the hundreds of thousands of dollars already raised for the playground.
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Baker, who is part of the fundraising group on the committee, said nearly 75 percent of the funds have been raised.
"We feel very good. We're getting there," Baker said.
Acting as the fiscal agent is the Willmar Area Community Foundation. Donations to the park are collected by the foundation and the community response has been very good.
"I find it very humbling to see this," said Carlson, executive director at the foundation.
Individuals, families and groups can also purchase a fence picket for $75. Not only does the money go toward the park, but the donors will have their name on a picket, showing all who visit the park who supported the effort.
Nearly 400 of the 800 available pickets have been sold.
"This playground has a lot of people excited," Baker said.
The design includes several slides, climbing apparatuses, swings, zip lines, music and touch sensory areas and a place to build a snow fort in the winter. Both able-bodied and disabled children will be able to enjoy the playground, along with their parents. Adult exercise equipment has also been added to the design.
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The physical construction of the playground has also begun, as site work began in November. Baker believes everything will be ready for concrete in the spring.
"The site is pretty much ready now," Baker said.
With fundraising well on its way, the next step is to find enough volunteers and tools for the community build of the playground. The build days have been set for May 16-17 and May 19-25. Anyone interested in volunteering can find a signup form at www.willmarplayground.com .
The playground planners and supporters want the playground to be a place where people from around the region and from all backgrounds can get together and have a good, safe, fun time.
"I think it is a great asset to the community. It is important to keep our kids busy. It is really regional," Cindy Kallevig said.
