Our Play Structure: Turning Dreams into Reality

By Alicia Beyer

The story of the new play structure at the Underwood Community Center is one of patience, perseverance, and a community that refused to give up.

It began in November 2017 with a simple but concerning observation. A local contractor noted structural issues with the existing wooden play structure.

Repairs were made in the winter of 2018, but even then, there was a quiet understanding: this beloved playground, filled with years of laughter and memories, would not last forever.

For a time, the idea of replacing it felt distant. But in October 2021, something shifted. A private donor reached out to the Underwood Parks and Recreation District with a desire to help build something new. That moment sparked hope—and with it, the beginning of a journey that would test the resilience of an entire community.

The early days were filled with both ambition and reality. Grant applications were submitted and denied. Cost estimates came back far higher than expected—hundreds of thousands of dollars for a new structure. It would have been easy to stop there. Instead, the community leaned in.

Volunteers stepped forward. A playground committee was formed. Designs were sketched, ideas were shared, and slowly, momentum began to build. Fun

draisers brought people together—spaghetti dinners, concerts, silent auctions, donation letters, garage sales, and community events where neighbors showed up not just to give, but to believe in something bigger. Every dollar raised told a story of commitment.

Then came a turning point in early 2023. A professional evaluation of the existing play structure revealed deeper safety concerns than anyone had realized. What had once been a hopeful project became urgent. This wasn’t just about building something new—it was about protecting the children who played there every day.

Even in the face of continued grant denials, the effort never stopped. Instead, the vision grew stronger. In 2023, the community took a bold step toward the future by creating Friends of Underwood, working to become a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. When that status was approved in 2024, it opened new doors and new possibilities.

That same year, the community gathered for something special: an ice cream social where families didn’t just talk about the future playground, they helped choose it. Kids played, parents voted, and for the first time, the dream felt real and within reach.

Then came the breakthrough. A partnership with GameTime brought a 50% matching grant, doubling the impact of every dollar raised. Momentum surged. Donations grew. And in September 2025, a single, extraordinary act of generosity changed everything—a local donor contributed $75,000, funding the project and turning years of effort into a reality.

From there, things moved quickly. The structure was ordered, delivered, and carefully stored, waiting for its moment. Final donations ensured installation could move forward, and on April 18, 2026, the old playground, so full of memories, was taken down to make way for something new.

After seventeen 10-hour days of volunteer hours, and just two months later, on June 20, 2026, the journey came full circle.

The new play structure stood complete, not just as a place to climb, slide, and play, but as a symbol of what a small, determined community can accomplish together. Every beam, every platform, every detail represents years of effort, generosity, and belief.

This playground is more than a structure. It is a legacy, built by a community, for its children, and for generations to come.

 

 

Join us on Sunday, July 26 from 1-3 pm as we dedicate our new play structure and celebrate with an Ice Cream Social at Underwood Park.

Thanks to the many volunteers, our new Underwood Park play structures are in place. Due to fundraising efforts by the Friends of Underwood, a non-profit, and local builder, Nathan Ziegler and his team, the play structures are now ready to welcome happy children. Join us Sunday, July 26th, at 1 pm for the formal dedication.

Following the dedication, Friends of Underwood will be serving ice cream sundaes and root beer floats.

This event is free to all Underwood residents.