Forward Fun Zone at Griese Park to open with ribbon reducing Aug. 18

By Derrian Coffey
News Staff Writer

MARSHFIELD — After a prolonged planning and building course of that started in January 2025, Marshfield’s new Griese Park playground is lastly nearing completion.

The Forward Fun Zone at Griese Park will formally open with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Tuesday, Aug. 18, from 5 to eight p.m.

The grand opening will characteristic music by DJ Bob Haley, quite a lot of meals vehicles and family-friendly actions, giving residents a possibility to have a good time the completion of the neighborhood’s latest playground.

Community members will even have the chance to help two native organizations via donation drives.

Copper Paws Rescue will probably be accepting donations of pet food, treats, pet provides and cleansing provides. Several rescue canine and puppies will even be on website in the course of the occasion.

The United Way Nutrition on Weekends program will probably be accumulating peanut butter, jelly or jam, and cereal to assist present meals for native kids.

Following the ribbon-cutting ceremony, the playground will formally be turned over to the Marshfield Parks and Recreation Department.

The ceremony will probably be performed by the Marshfield Area Chamber of Commerce & Industry.

The undertaking was spearheaded by Abby Meyer, Bill Thomas, Connie Michalski and Lindsey Safford.

Meyer and Safford stated they had been challenged to develop a Leadership Marshfield undertaking and in the end determined they needed to create one thing that will profit native kids for years to come back.

“The old Griese Park is 26 years old and was also a Leadership Marshfield project back in 2000 and 2001,” Safford stated. “It’s made entirely of wood, so it’s falling apart. It requires a lot of maintenance, and it’s just deteriorating pretty badly.”

Once accomplished, the Forward Fun Zone will grow to be the most important playground within the City of Marshfield.

The playground was designed with accessibility in thoughts, permitting kids of all skills to benefit from the gear.

“There will be two 50-foot zip lines, and one will have an ADA seat so children can be transferred onto it and enjoy that experience as well,” Safford stated.

According to Safford, the playground will even embrace a fenced play space for youngsters ages two to 5, a number of swing units, a big play construction with slides and climbing options and a number of other different interactive play components.

A poured concrete picnic space with picnic tables will present house for birthday events, household gatherings and different neighborhood occasions.

The roughly $800,000 undertaking was made attainable via donations from quite a few companies, organizations and neighborhood companions.

Forward Bank, the playground’s naming sponsor, was among the many undertaking’s largest contributors.

Additional sponsors embrace Marshfield Utilities, Staab Construction, Bentz Chiropractic, Simplicity Credit Union, Rotary Club of Marshfield, A&B Process Systems, Lifescape Wealth, First State Bank, Kiwanis, WHO (Women Helping Others) and plenty of different native companies and organizations.

For extra details about the Aug. 18 grand opening, building updates or an entire checklist of sponsors, go to the Griese Park Playground Renovation – Forward Fun Zone Facebook web page.