MEQUON — The Mequon Park and Open Space Board tonight will consider a new all-user playground adjacent to the south pavilion at Rotary Park, 4100 Highland Road.
The Rotary Club of Thiensville-Mequon is presenting the plan.
If approved, the Rotary Club would plan, construct and donate the playground to the city of Mequon. The Rotary committee that is planning the playground is chaired by Club President Jenne Hohn and former Mequon Mayor John Wirth.
"An all-user playground, sometimes called an inclusive playground, is a play area with equipment and resources that meet the needs of all people — not just children — with a wide range of abilities and ages," Hohn explained. "It is an all accessible play area where users of all ages and all abilities will be able to play and thrive."
Such a park was initially identified as a need in the 2019 master planning efforts.
Designed by Zimmerman Architectural Studios, the current concept plan consists of a large center structure with ramps, slides and climbing opportunities, surrounded by swings, including a wheelchair swing, sliders, archways, mounds, exercise equipment and a variety of other playground equipment. The playground would also feature internal paths, landscaping, benches and shaded rest areas, with its colors and design resembling the park’s existing landscape, the club wrote.
In addition, there would be a safe entranceway, perimeter barriers and improved paths leading to the playground.
“The lake and parking areas at Rotary Park can be tempting to kids and those with autism,” Hohn said. “We want this to be a safe experience for all guests of the park and enjoyable for guests’ parents, grandparents and caregivers.”
The club, which hopes to improve other facilities at the park, either with the playground or in future phases, said the project would not impact the nearby soccer fields. It plans to seek additional input from the community and various organizations that represent intellectual and developmentally disabled people.
Due to the scope of the project, the club anticipates the playground to open in early 2026.
“This will be another great project in our club’s 87 years of giving back to Mequon and Thiensville,” Hohn added.
According to the Mequon Park and Open Space Board’s agenda packet for today, the current playground at Rotary south was constructed in 1996, as several of the playground components were either donated or moved from other locations and are older than 1996.
It wasn’t until last summer when the club approved an initiative to move forward with planning documents for a proposed playground.