Imagination Kingdom park to open in Wauseon - 13abc.com Toledo (OH) News, Weather and Sports

Imagination Kingdom park to open in Wauseon

Reighard Park in Wauseon is getting a major facelift.  Soon, it will be home to Imagination Kingdom, and hundreds of kids will have a new place to play.

"To me it just feels so good to see," Bonnie Grisier, the project organizer, said. "You imagine it, but can't visualize what it's going to look like."

Grisier spearheaded the effort after visiting a similar park in Bryan with her grand kids.  She then enlisted the help of local businesses and Leathers and Associates, a company that specializes in community built playgrounds.

With the help of volunteers, like Chris and Gabriella Bowers, the empty lot is beginning to look a lot like a playground.

"I've been raked the mulch and putting paper down," Gabriella, 9, said.

"I've absolutely enjoyed everybody I've worked with and its just something fun to see something neat happen," Chris said.

Now, it was no easy feat getting to this point.  Organizers spent a year putting a plan together.  The park is unique to the community.  It features a train, combine, and fire station.  But the real gem of the project is the 30 foot high castle, that can hold 150-180 kids.

"Its about our kids," Grisier said.  "It's about bringing our families together and we need that more and more nowadays."

Loren Starkweather, 9, named the park and she says, "I was just amazed by it because there is so much built already.  I think its going to be a really cool park."

But there is still work that needs to be done to turn the dream into a reality.

"Its a beautiful park, they're just making it that much better," Chris Bowers said.  "I'm just really proud of the community."

Construction is set to wrap on Sunday, but until then organizers are asking anyone who can, to come out over the weekend and lend a hand. 

To volunteer just go to the park in Wauseon, and sign in, in the white volunteer tent.