By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post
ELLIS — Two city of Ellis Parks are being improved thanks to grants and volunteer efforts.
The Ellis campground received a $334,000 community block grant earlier this year for a new bathhouse and playground equipment.
The new bathhouse will include four private restrooms/showers. It also will be ADA compliant, Amy Burton, city clerk, said.
Bids will go out this fall, and city officials hope the new bathhouse and playground equipment will be in place by this spring.
Burton said both projects were sorely needed and will complement an earlier expansion of the campground.
Artist Monica Befort also completed a mural on the side of the old bathhouse earlier this year.
On the other side of town at Creekside Park, Women Who Lead, formerly known as the Wonder Woman League, made a new educational trail possible.
Learning happens everywhere a child goes, but parents, grandparents and caregivers may not always know how to support and enhance their learning, a press release said.
Women Who Lead in partnership with the Dr. Paul and Jennifer Teget Foundation and the Community Foundation of Ellis facilitated the addition of a Born Learning Trail for the Ellis community.
The trail is in Creekside Park, on the east side of the Dennis Schoenthaler Walking Trail, on Taylor Street. The educational project consists of a series of directional signs designed to help adults interact with children to boost language, problem-solving and critical-thinking skills, the press release said.
It also offers families a place to be active, elevate awareness of early childhood education and a truly visible symbol of the community’s commitment to young children, the press release said. Other benefits include accessibility to wheelchairs and strollers.
The trail allows adults to see the world through the eyes of children and notice what they are curious about, the press release said.
Volunteers from the city of Ellis, community members and numerous Women Who Lead members installed the trail on Saturday in Ellis, which consisted of installing the instructional signs along with painting various stations on the sidewalk.
This included alphabet letters, numbers, hopscotch, insects and birds.
This is the second Born Learning Trail that has been sponsored by Women Who Lead. The first, which is in Hays, was the first project sponsored by the women's nonprofit.
A third Born Learning Trail, also sponsored by Women Who Lead, is planned for St. John's Place in Victoria. Renovations of the former nursing home are being spearheaded by the Victoria Community Coalition.
The group is planning a ribbon cutting for the Ellis trail at 4 p.m. Aug. 24 at Creekside Park in Ellis.