Success Story: Sullivan County Park and Lake

The Sullivan County Park and Lake was developed in 1968 when Lake Sullivan was created as a means for flood control and conservation. A mecca for outdoor recreation, the Park and Lake serves the surrounding communities with its campground and cabins, nine-hole golf course and 468-acre lake that is popular for fishing and boating. Despite these attractions, one amenity the Park and Lake lacked was a safe, modern and ADA compliant central playground to enhance children’s lives and development.

The previous playground, which consisted of random pieces of equipment in dire need of replacement, was unsafe and did not have any protective surface underneath. Children would play on the playground while their parents would closely follow to ensure the safety of their children. As funding for a large, central ADA compliant playground was not within the park’s operating budget, Park and Lake board members relied on grant funding and community support to make their playground initiative a reality.

With support from the Sullivan County Community Foundation, the Park and Lake purchased and installed brand new modern equipment y means of a supervised community build. The playground, named “Happy Campers Playground” by a community member, features two swings, two toddler swing seats, one adaptive swing seat and one parent/toddler interactive swing. In addition, there is a modern merry-go-round, two spinning seats, large disc swing, play structure and large vertical climbing net.

The $12,000 grant to assist the Park and Lake with playground improvements came from the Lorene B. and Malcolm Pigg Endowment Fund, Sullivan Family Dentistry Fund, Templeton Coal Company, Inc. Fund for Sullivan and Lilly Endowment Board Designated Fund for Sullivan.