Board gets update on Backyard Adventure’s Phase 2

The grand opening for the first phase of the Lucas & Friends Backyard Adventure occurred in late October. Playground organizers were very grateful for the community support. Now, efforts are getting started on fund-raising for what will eventually be an adjacent second phase.
Jennifer Fritsche provided an update on the second phase of the playground at the Jan. 18 Perryville Board of Aldermen meeting.
“Through it all, we ended up spending $522,191.11,” Fritsche said. “In the accounts, the total raised at this time is $543,175. We have $12,000 in anticipated (donations) right now, so that’s exciting.”
The rollover from the initial phase into the new phase two means the fundraising effort will start with $33,000, Fritsche said.
“That’s great news going into our second phase of fund-raising…We’ve done our budget for phase 2,” Fritsche said. “We’ll be adding a zip line and swings and a turnabout, and a quiet grove.”
Fidgets and other activities are in the works, too, Fritsche said.
“It’s a pretty piece that Unlimited Play designed,” she told the aldermen. Musical equipment to be attached to the wall as well.
“That’s just another way to add some more play to the area,” Fritsche said. “The zip line and the swings take up so much space we couldn’t put a lot of other little things so we planned to have that in the budget.
Estimated cost for phase two is $212,800.
“That’s what we’ll need for phase 2 to be complete,” Fritsche said. “If any leftover funds it’ll go toward a community foundation fund.”
She presented an update on the second phase of the playground to the Perry County Board of Commissioners Jan. 14
Fritsche said the committee’s goal is to raise about half of the funds for phase two in 2022
“Hopefully, by the end of this year, we could look for some grants where we can do matching grants and get it done in a two year span.”
Fritsche has applied for a couple of grants already, including one from Proctor & Gamble
The committee is working on a golf tournament, a run and possibly a dinner auction, noted Fritsche.
“We’re been collecting items through this whole time,” she said. “We plan to do that within the next year to two years.”
Fritsche is optimistic the fund-raising for phase two won’t take as long.

“We’re excited to get this started again,” she said. “Hopefully, it won’t take us five years.”
For the first phase, the average raised per year was around $80,000 to $100,000
Perryville Mayor Ken Baer asked Fritsche if she had any stories of how successful the playground has been since opening last fall.
“It has been amazing,” she said, adding she often gets emotional thinking about the response. “Some of the stories I’ve heard have been crazy of families (enjoying it). One kid said, ‘I’m higher than I’ve ever been in my life.’” To not ever feel that and to hear him say that, it’s pretty amazing.”
A local family already committed $5,000 for the second phase.
They know how important those types of playgrounds are, Fritsche said.
“These playgrounds are in big cities, they’re not in a city like Perryville. She was so impressed and proud to have that in their home town.”
Fritsche said the stories from playground visitors are never-ending.
“People are hearing about it more and more, it’s been pretty great. We were there (at the playground) Christmas Eve and Lucas was excited because someone from another was there.”
“’Mom, can you believe these people are here,’” Fritsche said. “It’s exciting to see travelers stop, take a break and play a little bit.”
“It’s been a family project for us, of course, but it’s a lot of heart and soul to bring this to the town and know what it means.”
Fritsche is hoping $100,000 can get raised in 2022.
Some possibilities will be open for grants and we can get this built as quick as possible, Fritsch said. The equipment may possibly get ordered later this year.
“I would like to get the concrete pad done as soon as possible because all of the other infrastructure is done except for the fencing.”
Perryville Parks and Recreation Director Jim Cadwell said the state is planning an “organizational citation” for Lucas and Friends Backyard Adventure later this year.
“In the world of parks and rec this is a pretty big deal. In the state of Missouri, the Parks and Recreation Association said, ‘This is an awesome organization, and they did a really great thing.’”
An award will be presented at the March 15 Board of Aldermen meeting, Cadwell said.