Added on August 31, 2026 Sara Swanson

KaBOOM!!! New play structures installed over 3 days by 65 volunteers!

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Manchester’s mayor, Pat Vaillencourt, and city manager Michael Sessions surrounded by volunteers cut the ribbon on the new adventure course/play space at the end of the workday on Thursday, August 27. Photo credit: Colleen A. McKenney.

by Colleen A. McKenney

From August 25 to August 27, Manchester area volunteers were hard at work building two multigenerational use areas near Manchester City Hall, a joint project between the City of Manchester, KaBOOM!, Ralph C Wilson Jr. Foundation, and Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation. More than 65 volunteers and City of Manchester staff worked over the three days to create a play structure in the former green area near the back parking lot and to prepare the back patio area as a beautiful gathering and small-event space.

KaBOOM!’s representatives stated that over 10,000 pounds of concrete were mixed and poured as one of the impressive stats of this unique community project. A large contingent of dedicated volunteers were on hand from the Manchester Area Senior Center and lunches and refreshments were generously provided inside the Senior Center for volunteers.

On the afternoon of August 27, volunteers celebrated as Mayor Pat Vailliencourt and City Manager Michael Sessions ceremoniously cut the ribbon on the play structure, opening it to public use. The play area was designed with the input of local youth and geared toward older children as well as adult use. There are obstacles, exercise equipment, and a zipline (specifically requested by the youth designers!). Mayor Vailliencourt shared that our local youth initially requested a zipline across the River Raisin but were pleased with the compromise of the less-risky equipment placed in the playground instead.

Residents and visitors alike can enjoy these spaces for decades to come and the volunteers can look on with pride as a physical manifestation of their love for this community.

Left to right: KaBoom!’s Bicki Rudd; City of Manchester’s Mayor Pat Vailliencourt; Ann Arbor Community Foundation’s John Paul Williams-Soriano; and 5 Healthy Towns Foundation’s Matt Pegouskie. Photo credit: Colleen A. McKenney.