Kiwanis Club of Thomas County/Colby
The Kiwanis Club of Thomas County/Colby is proud to share the official opening and ribbon cutting for the Kenton Krehbiel Inclusive Playground to be hosted on Saturday, Aug. 30 starting at 10:00 a.m.
A project that kicked off last summer is coming to completion and the public is invited to join in the celebration. Joint forces came together over the past year to bring Colby’s first accessible playground to fruition while honoring a member of the community.
Fundraising efforts for the renovation of Villa High Park kicked off in June of 2024 and with the devoted efforts of a local parent group, community volunteers, Kiwanis Club, Rotary Club, the City of Colby and the Thomas County Community Foundation the funds were completely raised in March of 2025. Over $500,000 was raised by community events, business and individual donations, and finalized with grant funding from the Dane G. Hansen Foundation.
Demolition was completed by the City of Colby in April 2025, construction was started by Cunningham Recreation in July and finished the initial installation in August. Road, bathroom and parking improvements are still in the plans for the City of Colby.
The playground features accessible equipment with a Pour in Place (PIP) surface that allows for easy access of mobility devices. This playground is the first step in giving accessibility for all kids to be able to play.
“I’ve honestly been speechless and wrapped in my feels to see Kynlee be able to play with her friends! I keep telling her it’s not a dream, she really has a park she gets to play at now!” shared Melissa White, one of the parent advocates who helped bring this idea to the community.
The ribbon cutting will include a hamburger/hotdog feed, face painting and a presentation to rename the park after long-time Kiwanis member, Kenton Krehbiel.
Participants are asked to leave parking around the pond for accessible vehicles only. Adjacent business parking lots and Terrace Drive are available for additional parking.
Rick Dickman from the Kiwanis Club shared “The Kenton Krehbiel Inclusive Playground serves as a testament, that when a small group of individuals with a common vision can come together along with generous outpouring of community support, we are able to bring our fondest dreams to reality.”
More information regarding the event and the playground can be found on their Facebook page: Kenton Krehbiel Inclusive Playground at Villa High Park.