The playground is now ready for adventure.
In an announcement made Oct. 6 on Facebook, The Lucas and Friends Backyard Adventures playground is open and safe for kids.
“It is finally open and all of phase one is complete,” Lucas Fritsche said in a short video announcement. “I want to thank all those who helped us on phase one. It is now open and let’s all play.”
Lucas’ mother, Jennifer Fritsche, and a group of volunteers put together a plan to construct phase one of the playground on the west side of French Lane, south of the Perryville Splash Pad.
Now, five years later, that portion is complete.
“When we opened the playground it was emotional,” Jennifer Fritsche said. “We were taken aback and Lucas was speechless and that’s pretty shocking for him.”
That sort of emotional response has come from the years of hard work.
“So many people have come together to make this happen,” Jennifer Fritsche said. “We know that it took a really long time, but having a majority of the project built by volunteers and raising money ourselves is special to us.”
The playground project was Lucas’ idea. When Fritsche was in third grade, he noticed that his friend with disabilities could only play on the swings.
Wanting to give his friend and others with disabilities the same opportunity to play that he has, Fritsche got to work on the idea for an all-inclusive playground.
He presented his ideas at his school and spoke with the city on making this dream come true. The project has been a partnership between the Fritsches, Perry County, and the city of Perryville, as well as countless local businesses and volunteers.