The Rotary Club of Thiensville-Mequon’s proposed all-inclusive playground for Rotary Park, if ultimately approved, would be the Zrst of many improvements at the park. Image courtesy of the Rotary Club of T-M
MEQUON — The Rotary Club of Thiensville-Mequon’s all-user playground adjacent to the south pavilion at Rotary Park, 4100 Highland Road, is one step closer to becoming a reality.
The city of Mequon’s Common Council last week unanimously approved a pre-development agreement for the playground, which would meet the needs of all people — not just children — with a wide range of abilities and ages.
"As a volunteer for multiple organizations that serve the IDD community, I am excited that a play area for all abilities, and all ages has been so well received," Club President Jenne Hohn told the News Graphic Sunday. "It is wonderful to see the enthusiastic support from local leadership. I am thrilled that we are going to have this resource in Mequon at one of our loveliest parks."
According to the current concept plan, the park would consist 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.
It 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, and in addition, include a safe entranceway, perimeter barriers and improved paths leading to the playground.
Former Mayor John Wirth told the council that this playground, initially identified as a need in the 2019 master planning efforts, is just one of several improvements that the club hopes to make to the park moving forward.
"Hopefully this is the first phase in a number of improvements we’d like to make to the park ...," Wirth said. "People go to Gathering on the Green, there’s no great path to get between the two pavilions at the park and there’s a variety of other improvements we’d like to see. But this, our first phase, is to do a playground. It’s something Mequon sorely needs."
The council agreed, noting that the new playground would be a significant improvement given that the current one’s equipment is more than 25 years old.
"This is a really exciting project...," Alderman Brian Parrish added. "They’re (playgrounds) very expensive and it’s going to take a lot of private groups to fund these over time, so to just get this one underway is very important..." The club, which reiterated that it was not seeking final approval just yet from the council, plans to gain additional input from the community and various organizations representing intellectually and developmentally disabled people.
If it receives final approval, the playground is anticipated to open in early 2026.