Oskaloosa Celebrates Official Ribbon Cutting for Edmundson Playground

Volunteers, Contributors, City of Oskaloosa Staff, and Oskaloosa Chamber Diplomats cut the ribbon on the new Edmundson Playground.

Oskaloosa, IA – The city of Oskaloosa gathered today to officially inaugurate the much-anticipated Edmundson Playground with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, marking the culmination of years of planning and community effort.

The playground, which had its soft opening late last year, has already become a beloved part of the community. Today’s event was more than just a ribbon-cutting; it was a celebration of the hard work and dedication that brought this project to life.

“Today, we officially cut the ribbon on a well-needed and well-used park,” said Stewart Timm with the City of Oskaloosa, while addressing the crowd. “We’re thankful for the support from our community, and I want to thank our city staff for their time and effort. A big thank you to all the donors who made this possible.”

Angela Foster, the Oskaloosa Main Street Director, introduced Diane Ottosson, who provided an overview of the playground’s journey. Ottosson highlighted the project’s beginnings in the fall of 2019 and the challenges posed by the global pandemic, which led to delays and increased costs.

“Despite the setbacks, we persevered, and now we see the final result here today,” said Ottosson. “I couldn’t be more pleased to have this as part of our community.”

The project received significant support from various donors, including the City of Oskaloosa, the George Daily Trust, and Musco, each contributing over $100,000. Additionally, many other organizations and community groups played a crucial role in fundraising, such as the Kiwanis Club, Mahaska County Community Foundation, and the Wellmark Foundation.

One heartwarming contribution came from a local church group of children who collected coins, demonstrating that every penny counts.

Ottosson added, “We’re excited to see the kids enjoying the fruits of our efforts.”