Improvements make parks a destination in Cape

Cape Girardeau is becoming a burgeoning area for recreation. The number of places for children to play is growing, and safety improving. From the newly improved Cape Splash to the buzzing Osage Centre, Cape guarantees great fun. And now, nature-inspired playground equipment will be installed at Cape Girardeau County Park South and the popular Melaina's Magical Playland at Cape County North has reopened to complement those places and enhance our area's family-friendly appeal.

Families are always looking for places to spend time together. Some go away on vacations and spy out parks where children can expend energy and adults can relax. We are fortunate to have so much offered right in our own backyard and to have the financial resources to make improvements. What's noteworthy is that our parks are not simply taking up space or even underutilized. Rather, they are well-utilized spaces that come alive when the weather cooperates.

We take pride in knowing that much of what we get to enjoy here results from the generosity of people making private donations. For example, a local charity committed $150,000 worth of equipment of the $350,000 needed for the outdoor playground at Cape Girardeau County Park South. The playground will be "designed to depict an adventure trail," as the Southeast Missourian reported recently. "Children will be able to climb on artificial rocks and play in sand and water. Various elements of the playground will be handicapped-accessible."

After being closed since March, Melaina's reopened with new rubber ground tiles, an improvement with children's safety in mind. The play area is another favorite with special needs children and was funded primarily with private donations.

Let's not forget Capaha Park's playground equipment upgrades and the new equipment anticipated at Kiwanis Park. These are just two additional areas that testify to Cape's commitment to healthy, wholesome outlets for the whole family.

We thank those who have donated to make this all possible and to voters for supporting healthy public spaces. Children who have places to run, jump, climb and swim are children who are less likely to find themselves looking for mischief born of boredom. So whether it's Discovery Playhouse, Lazy L Safari Park, or any of the various water or playground parks, good times await in Cape Girardeau.