Ellsworth, Maine — The City of Ellsworth Recreation Commission invites families and community members to Play-it-Forward, a fun and informative event focused on Knowlton Park held at the park on Saturday, May 24 from 9 to 11 a.m.
Play-it-Forward Day is designed to raise awareness about ongoing playground upgrades and maintenance, highlight the work of the Recreation Commission, and learn more about how they can get involved in supporting playground design and projects.
Play-it-Forward will feature a variety of hands-on and family-friendly activities:
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- Touch-a-Truck: Kids can climb aboard and explore a police cruiser, fire truck, and public works truck, and meet the professionals who operate them.
- Playground Tours: A highlight of the day, Recreation Commission Chair Eric Marichal will lead guided tours of the current playground and present the vision, plan, and timeline for upgrades.
- Knowlton Park BINGO Adventure: Children can complete a BINGO card by discovering natural and fun features around Knowlton Park and earn a small prize.
- Suggest-a-Feature Board: Kids and visitors are invited to vote on suggested features and submit ideas for what they’d like to see in a future playground.
- Playground Committee Table: Stop by to learn how you can get involved in the planning, fundraising, and building of a playground for years to come.
“This event is about more than just fun, it’s about engaging our community in the future of recreation in Ellsworth,” said Eric Marichal, Recreation Commission chair. “We’ve heard from residents that they want more transparency and updates about what’s happening at the park. Play-it-Forward is a starting point, a chance to share our plans, gather ideas, and involve families in shaping the next phase of Knowlton Park.”
The City of Ellsworth is actively upgrading playground features to ensure a safer and more enjoyable experience for all. The splash pad is currently closed until early July for resurfacing; the material requires dry conditions to apply and time to cure, and we appreciate kids’ patience as we work to reopen it safely. The tire swings have received new hardware, including a boot and bearings, making it smoother and eliminating a potential safety hazard. Several swing seats and hardware have also been replaced, and we’ve added two new adaptive chair swings, one for ages 0 – 5 and the other for ages 5 – 12 to promote inclusive play. The suspension bridge has been repaired and is back in use, while the slide is scheduled for repair in August to fix a hole with help from a specialized company. Finally, new step stone logs will be installed in June in partnership with Public Works.
The City of Ellsworth and the Recreation Commission encourage residents of all ages to attend, learn more about the upgrade efforts, and see how they can participate in something that will last generations.
Every month residents are invited to join the Recreation Commission meetings which take place on the third Tuesday at 8:30 a.m. at Ellsworth City Hall.
