Your children will have a new playground to play at the next time they head to Nicolet Beach at Peninsula State Park.

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources officially welcomed guests to the new playground made possible by donations to the Friends of Peninsula State Park. Unlike its predecessor, which had wooden equipment inside a wood chip-filled pit, the new playground features a rubberized surface and in-ground features like a merry-go-round and rain wheel to allow children of all abilities to enjoy.

Park Superintendent Eric Hyde thanked the Friends of Peninsula State Park for their fundraising efforts, which raised over $130,000 for the project and replaced the playground in just over a year. Judy Ortiz of the Friends group is excited for the families who come to the state park and can now use the new accessible playground when they visit the beach area.

It is the latest project the Friends of Peninsula State Park have taken on recently, as they have raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for the new Eagle Tower and nature center projects.