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Parents and children in Silver Lake both rejoiced today during the grand-opening of Rambler Park. The park is located behind the old Lake Township school building and will offer a variety of outdoor entertainment for families with children of all ages.

According to Tonya Conley, Silver Lake clerk and treasurer, the project began last spring when the town began considering the update of preexisting playground equipment donated by Warsaw Community School Corporation. The town began to consider updating the equipment due to safety concerns. Conley stated that a grant was awarded to the town for the construction of Rambler Park during the spring of 2013 and construction had begun on the park just a few months after in July.

According to Conley, the funding for the park was made possible through a two-to-one grant from the K21 Foundation up to $70,000. The community was able to raise a total of $35,000 for the project and receive the full $70,000 grant. Acute Fencing of Columbia City was contracted for the new playground equipment and paving was done by Gaunt & Son of Wabash.

The park is filled with a variety of exciting playground equipment including rock climbing walls, side-by-side slides, swing sets, teeter-totters, gliders, monkey bars and more. In addition, families may enjoy picnics on the lawn surrounding the playground and basketball on the soon-to-be painted courts.

Conley noted that improvements to the playground will continue starting tomorrow with the painting of both the basketball courts and later the older equipment left in the park. In addition, Conley stated that a walking trail through a small wooded area behind the park will be completed at a later date.

“This is a place kids can play who might not have a big yard because they live in town. It is a place they can play, meet other kids and interact with each other…This is a place for families to come with their children that is quiet and out of the way,” said Conley.