ST. GEORGE — Cheers from a crowd soared as the Hurricane Valley Rotary Club opened its new Rotary Club All-Abilities Playground at Dixie Springs Park in Hurricane on Friday.
Kenna Seegmiller, a local mother, told St. George News that the park has special meaning for her family.
Her daughter Abby, age 14, couldn’t sit in a regular swing. But the new swings can accommodate her daughter’s cerebral palsy and are a game-changer for herself, her husband Kurtis Seegmiller and their family.
“This park means a lot to us because there have been times when we couldn’t play at a park. Even though we were there, Abby couldn’t play on certain things,” Kenna Seegmiller said. “We can come here and play with the whole family at the complex. Everyone can play; it’s not just kids that can run.”
The playground, located at 3605 W. 2900 South, is over 7,500 square feet and has 30 separate play stations. In addition to the special swings, the park features the Double Decker Cone Spinner, Cozy Cocoons, Big Slide, Aeroglider, Sleeping Bear Crawl Tube, a variety of swings and slides and a wheelchair ramp to enable access to many of the playground features. There are also 13 shade sails throughout the park to help keep it cool.
Darin Larson, the Hurricane Valley Rotary Club co-chair for the project, said the park still needs close to $30,000 to be completed despite great community support. Donations of any amount are appreciated and can be given on the club’s website. Or checks may be addressed to the Hurricane Valley Rotary and mailed to Hurricane Valley Rotary, All-Abilities Playground, P.O. Box 123, Hurricane, UT 84737.
Larson said the Hurricane Valley Rotary Club started the project in 2021 to increase the number of play opportunities in Washington County, especially for children with special needs and limited options.
The Hurricane Valley Rotary Club Public Relations Executive Bruce Cole said the project cost about $600,000. It is the largest project the club has ever undertaken. Cole thanked the city of Hurricane for providing $200,000 toward the playground through donated land. He added that the club donated funds raised at the Hurricane Valley Rotary Easter Car Shows this year and in 2022.
“The contractor for the project, Big T Recreation, also helped us out greatly,” Cole said. “Now the playground will be turned over to the city, so its hours will be the same as all the city parks, which close at dusk.”
Cole said in addition to the city and the club, major contributors include:
Matt’s Off-Road Recovery, American Heritage Homes, Hansen’s Landscape Services, Sand Cove Storage, Jeff Hunt, CPA, Bash Companies, F.X. Industries, Monta Ballard, Higgins Concrete, Jackson Land Design, Ironman Foundation, Interstate Rock Products, State Bank of Southern Utah, Stout Home Furnishings, Marv & Sheree Marcus, Rotary District 5420 (Utah), and Washington City, St. George Sunrise, Cedar City, Millcreek and Holladay rotary clubs.
Photo Gallery
The new All-Abilities Playground at Dixie Springs Park is now open (L to R) Fred Resch, Hurricane assistance planner, Tiffani Wright, Hurricane recreation director and Doug Heideman, Hurricane Councilman, Hurricane, Utah, June 23, 2023 | Photo by Stephanie DeGraw, St. George News
The new All-Abilities Playground at Dixie Springs Park is now open and was spearheaded by the Hurricane Valley Rotary Club, Hurricane, Utah, June 23, 2023 | Photo courtesy of Bruce Cole, St. George News
The new All-Abilities Playground at Dixie Springs Park is now open and was spearheaded by the Hurricane Valley Rotary Club, Hurricane, Utah, June 23, 2023 | Photo courtesy of Bruce Cole, St. George News
The new All-Abilities Playground at Dixie Springs Park has special meaning for the Kenna and Kurtis Seegmiller family, Hurricane, Utah, June 23, 2023 | Photo by Stephanie DeGraw, St. George News
A girl plays at the All-Abilities Playground at Dixie Springs Park, Hurricane, Utah, June 23, 2023 | Photo by Stephanie DeGraw, St. George News
A bear to climb on at the All-Abilities Playground at Dixie Springs Park, Hurricane, Utah, June 23, 2023 | Photo by Stephanie DeGraw, St. George News
Children play at the All-Abilities Playground at Dixie Springs Park, Hurricane, Utah, June 23, 2023 | Photo by Stephanie DeGraw, St. George News
Children play at the All-Abilities Playground at Dixie Springs Park, Hurricane, Utah, June 23, 2023 | Photo by Stephanie DeGraw, St. George News
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