The project to rebuild the aging Kids Kingdom playground at the Enterprise Park in Redding is nearly funded – only $44,000 is needed to meet the $310,000 goal.
At Tuesday night’s City Council meeting a presentation was given about the fundraising effort.
Half of the $310,000 will be paid for with a state grant to make the playground accessible to handicapped children.
Community Services Director Kim Niemer says $16,000 was raised for the rebuild at the recent "Slide the City" event where over 5,000 people paid to ride a giant water slide set up on the Placer Street hill. Niemer says the rest of the $266,000 has come from individuals and other community partners.
"The McConnell Foundation at $25,000, Redding Rancheria at $25,000, the California Endowment at $20,000,” Niemer said.
The original Kids Kingdom was built in 1992 and is coming to the end of its life. Niemer says it will be demolished by the end of the year with construction set to begin on Kids Kingdom 2 in the spring. A wine-tasting event takes place Oct. 19 at the City Hall in Redding to help support the effort.