Ribbon cut on new kid-designed playground at Jaycee Park
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- Ogden Mayor Ben Nadolski along with representatives from Ogden City, Discover and KABOOM! cut the ribbon on a new playground at Jaycee Park on Thursday, Aug. 14, 2025.
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- A new playground at Jaycee Park, shown Thursday, Aug. 14, 2025, was largely designed with input from local kids.
OGDEN — Jaycee Park’s new playground is officially in place and almost ready for local kids to use it.
During a short ceremony Thursday afternoon, representatives from Ogden City, Discover and KABOOM! cut the ribbon on the new playground.
“This new playspace with Ogden City and Discover is part of a nationwide effort led by KABOOM! to end playspace inequity — the reality that far too many children do not get the chance to play on a playground, something that should be part of every child’s life,” a press release on the event read. “Their work is to ensure every kid can experience the numerous physical, social, and mental health benefits of play, regardless of background or where they live.”
The release said that the playground was designed with input from area kids.
“Community members led the creation of the playground, from design to installation. In June, kids from Ogden City shared drawings of their dream playspaces with project organizers,” the release said. “These ideas were integrated into the new playground design. This project represents progress in ensuring every kid has a place to play, providing a state-of-the-art playground for 1,200 children to enjoy each year.”
KABOOM! Project Manager Peter Christophersen told the Standard-Examiner on Thursday that around 130 volunteers from the city, Discover and KABOOM! built the playground in just under six hours on Thursday.
“Ogden City was already interested in investing in this specific park — Jaycee Park — so this is part of a park redevelopment project where next year they’ll actually come and completely renovate the pavilion that’s here today,” he said. “With this project, we not only added a new playground with an even bigger playground footprint than what was here before, but we also planted trees, we also installed one of the minishelters and also some new benches and picnic tables for this park.”
He said this was the 53rd nationwide collaboration between KABOOM! and Discover to build a playground.
Christophersen said the project goes beyond just building new amenities into an existing park.
“What we’re really seeking to do and what this project helps to create is a sense of community for local residents to take pride in Jaycee Park and feel understood, feel seen and know that the city is taking notice of this specific part of town and that we’re creating a space for them,” he said.
With construction being so recent, the playground has been cordoned off for the time being to let the concrete and other construction materials set. Christophersen said he anticipated the city opening the playground to park patrons at the beginning of next week.
