Good News: Kiki's Playground ribbon cutting set for April 20th

Grain Valley Parks and Recreation is thrilled to announce the much-anticipated ribbon-cutting ceremony for the newest addition to Armstrong Park (713 Main Street, Grain Valley, MO 64029), "Kiki's Playground." The event is scheduled to take place on Saturday, April 20th, starting at 10 a.m.

"Kiki's Playground" is named in loving memory of Kiki Claphan, a beloved former parks employee whose passion for creating safe and enjoyable spaces for children left an indelible mark on the Grain Valley community. 

"She played Mrs. Claus and did Storytime with Mrs. Claus for years. She also coordinated many of the Mini Munchkins and Preschool Players programs, but she also was our concessions supervisor. So, a lot of the high school students in Grain Valley who worked concessions reported to her. She knew a lot of the youth in the parks program, and she was a paraprofessional at Grain Valley Schools. When she passed away in 2020, we were in the process of securing funding and planning for an all-inclusive playground to replace the aging equipment at Armstrong Park. We thought what better way to remember Kiki than to name the playground after her," Parks and Recreation Director Shannon Davies said.

“This project was funded in part from a grant award through the Federal Land, Water and Conservation Fund and is something both the Grain Valley Parks & Recreation Department and Park Board have been working towards and identifying funding for over the last several years,” Davies. “This is the first All-Inclusive playground in our park system.  We are excited to offer the community a play space for children of all abilities in one of our most heavily used parks.”

The grant covers approximately a quarter of the $445,000 project cost. Delays in funding at the federal level pushed the project back approximately a year, but the playground is now open for an all-inclusive play experience. Davies explained a bit about what it means to be an all inclusive play space.

"We try to make sure that at least 50% of all play components are able to be used by kids of all abilities. That has to do with not just ADA access from the parking lot to the playground, but also making sure the surface material is accessible. A lot of the transfer stations or platforms are in place so that children of all abilities can access them, but we also have some more challenging elements for all kids to explore," Davies said.

While the playground itself is now open and already a popular play spot, two elements will be unveiled at the ribbon cutting on the 20th. An arch with "Kiki's Playground" lettering will be installed by the 20th, along with a plaque honoring Claphan. 

Kiki's Playground, the first inclusive playground in the Grain Valley parks system, will be celebrated with a ribbon cutting on April 20th. The playground is now open for visitors. Photo credit: City of Grain Valley