Mineral Wells Area News

Reporting By Gary Norman | Mineral Wells Area News

MINERAL WELLS, Texas — Children of all ages filled the new playground at West City Park on Friday, Oct. 23, as city officials, Chamber of Commerce representatives, local nonprofit groups and families gathered to celebrate the opening of the city’s newly renovated $850,000 playground.

The project replaces playground equipment installed in 1996 with modern, inclusive features designed to accommodate children of different ages and abilities.

For some families, the improvements represent more than a new place to play.

Selena Newcombe, whose 7-year-old child, Charley, has Down syndrome, shared her appreciation for the city’s efforts to make the playground more inclusive.

“Someone thought about them,” Newcombe wrote in a Facebook post following the opening.

Newcombe acknowledged that the playground may not accommodate every disability or accessibility need, but said the city’s consideration of children who are often overlooked in public spaces was meaningful.

“As the mom of a child with a significant disability, I cannot explain how much that matters,” she wrote. “This conversation is happening for a community that often cannot speak for itself, for people who usually aren’t sitting in the boardroom when these decisions are made.”

“Someone brought them into the room anyway.”

Newcombe said building an inclusive community begins with recognizing the needs of people whose experiences may be different from our own.

“THAT is inclusion,” she wrote.

An $850,000 investment in community recreation

According to Mineral Wells Parks and Recreation Director Carrie Stevenson, the $850,000 renovation included new playground equipment, delivery and construction, demolition and removal of the old equipment, removal of existing pea gravel and installation of fencing.

The original playground, constructed in 1996, had aged, and replacement parts were becoming increasingly difficult to obtain.

The renovation introduced modern equipment intended to provide more opportunities for children of varying ages and abilities to play together. Healthy existing trees were preserved to provide natural shade.

“Our team puts a lot of heart into creating spaces our community can enjoy, and seeing a project come to life makes all the hard work worth it,” Stevenson said.

“There’s nothing better than seeing kids smile, hearing how much families love the new space, and knowing they don’t want to leave!”

Stevenson said the department takes pride in helping create lasting memories for Mineral Wells families.

“That’s why we’re proud to be the ‘fun department’, we get to help create happy memories for our community,” she said.

How the project was funded

Stevenson explained that funding for the playground renovation came in part from the city’s October 2024 sale of the former post office building at 201 NE Second St.

The historic building, cared for by the Mineral Wells Woman’s Club for nearly 50 years, sold for $1 million.

Proceeds were deposited into a restricted capital fund designated for projects benefiting the community. Those funds cannot be used for general operating expenses.

The city used a portion of the proceeds for improvements at West City Park. Remaining funds, combined with the Willie Casper Library Trust, helped finance the new Willie Casper Storybook Park at Boyce Ditto Public Library, which opened Oct. 29.

Families celebrate the new playground

Approximately 100 children attended the ribbon-cutting celebration, quickly putting the new equipment to use.

Mayor Regan Johnson said watching children enjoy the playground demonstrated the importance of investing in community spaces.

“It means happy kids out, playing with each other, having a great time, enjoying the weather, the sunshine, each other, getting to be imaginative,” Johnson said. “And I think that’s the most important thing.”

Brenda Burks attended the opening with her 7-year-old grandson, Sebastan Pena.

“It’s beautiful, it’s amazing,” Burks said, adding that she planned to bring him back regularly.

Pena said his favorite feature was the big slide, especially its windows.

“It’s fun!” he said.

For Newcombe, the playground represents an encouraging step toward a community where children with disabilities are considered when public spaces are planned.

“That’s the kind of community I want my family growing up in,” she wrote. “This community. Mineral Wells.”

She closed her post by thanking the city and its Parks and Recreation Department for the improvements.

“Y’all NAILED IT. The park is fantastic!”

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