By Hemingford Community Foundation
The Hemingford Community Foundation proudly celebrated the grand opening of the community’s brand-new playground with an energetic ribbon cutting held this week. More than 50 kids and parents gathered to share in the excitement, marking a major milestone for local families and the Foundation’s ongoing commitment to enhancing community spaces.
Adding a special touch to the event, members of the Kids Playground Advisory Committee—local youth who helped guide the project—held the ribbon and performed the official cutting. Their leadership symbolized the spirit of teamwork, creativity and community pride that has been the foundation of this effort.
The playground project was made possible through remarkable community generosity. The Foundation raised more than $250,000 from local donors alongside regional and statewide grants, reflecting an extraordinary, shared commitment to investing in Hemingford’s future.
In addition to the main playground, the Foundation also unveiled a second location featuring a small playset near the ballfields. This additional site ensures even more access to active play for kids throughout the year.
“We are thrilled to see these new and enhanced play spaces come to life and even more thrilled to see our kids leading the way,” said the Hemingford Community Foundation Board. “Both playground locations were designed for them, with them and the enthusiasm at last week’s celebration shows just how meaningful these investments are for our community.”
The new playground features modern, inclusive equipment designed to support active play, imagination and connection among children of all ages and abilities. Together, these projects reflect the community’s shared vision to create vibrant, family-friendly spaces across Hemingford.
The Foundation extends heartfelt thanks to the many donors, volunteers and partners who helped bring these projects to fruition. Their generosity made this joyful day possible.
Up next for the Foundation is the annual Holiday Chamber Bucks Promotion, encouraging community members to shop local and support Hemingford businesses. Last year this promotion ensured more than $15,000 stayed in the community supporting local businesses. More details will be shared soon.
Foundation Board Priorities for the Next Three Years:
- Strategic Giving
- Maximizing 501(c)3 Access
- Community Presence
- Strategic Partnerships
The board, consisting of Jessica Davies, April Delsing, Joni Jespersen, Tonya Mayer and Tabi Prochazka, meets regularly to serve the residents of Hemingford and the surrounding area. Their mission is to identify and support the people, organizations and projects that make Hemingford a great place to live, learn, work and play. The Foundation is an affiliate fund of the Oregon Trail Community Foundation.