The ribbon has been cut, the swings are moving, and one remarkable Youth Council vision has become a reality.
What began as a simple observation by Youth Council member Ollie Robertson grew into one of the largest community projects ever undertaken by the Ivins Youth Council.
Ollie noticed something missing at Unity Park. While children of all abilities came to enjoy the playground, there wasn’t an ADA-accessible swing that would allow everyone to play together.
Rather than simply pointing out the problem, the Youth Council decided to become part of the solution.
Over the past year, Youth Council members developed a fundraising campaign, spoke at neighborhood meetings, met with businesses and community leaders, made presentations to the City Council, appeared on Fox 13 News, and encouraged residents to support the project. Along the way, more than 120 individuals, businesses, and organizations contributed nearly $20,000, helping secure matching funding needed to complete the project.
The new playground now includes an ADA-accessible swing, a generational swing, additional playground swings, a shade structure, and a rubberized safety surface, creating a more welcoming place for children and families of all abilities.
This project demonstrates exactly what the Ivins Youth Council is all about.
Young people recognized a community need, worked together, inspired others to join the effort, and transformed an idea into something that will benefit families for many years to come.
A heartfelt thank you goes to every donor, volunteer, business, community partner, and city staff member who helped make this project possible. Most of all, congratulations to the members of the Ivins Youth Council. You didn’t just raise money for a swing set.
You helped make Unity Park a place where even more children can experience the simple joy of swinging together.
That is a legacy you can be proud of.
