People wanting to give donations to rebuild the playground at Island Park may send checks to Legacy, P.O. Box 713, Winfield, Ks., 67156.
"People are calling wanting to give a donation," Andrea McNown, administrative assistant at Legacy, said. "We do not know the future of the playground."
The playground – funded and constructed by volunteers in 2004 – was destroyed by a fast-moving fire Monday afternoon. The fire has been ruled suspicious. Arson has not been ruled out.
It has been estimated to cost $250,000 when it was built in 2004. It was insured by the city for $240,000. There are questions how much more the same playground might cost to build today.
Legacy will manage the funds from people who do want to make a donation, according to McNown.
ISLE OF LIGHTS
The Winfield Isle of Lights holiday tradition may not be affected by the fire that destroyed the playground at Island Park Monday afternoon.
Committee spokeswoman Donna Homan said Tuesday morning that the committee plans to meet Wednesday morning, but at least one city worker has said he doesn’t think the fire will prevent the Isle from opening on schedule.
"Everybody is in shock that I’ve talked to – shocked and angry," Homan said. "How could anyone do this?"
Investigators are still trying to determine the cause of the fast-moving fire and were back at the scene this morning. Dense smoke could still be seen as far away as Arkansas City.
"It was such a neat community project," Homan said.
The playground was built in 2004 after a city-wide effort to raise the approximately $250,000 required. Volunteers also constructed the popular playground.
Plans call for the Isle of Lights to be set up Nov. 12 by volunteers and open Nov. 16. More than 15,000 cars drove by the winter wonderland which includes hundreds of thousands of lights, Toyland, Zooland, Reindeer Road and Candyland. Admission is free. Donations help provide an additional exhibit each year. It is open daily from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.
THE DUCKS AND GEESE
The year-round residents of Island Park appear to have taken all the to-do at the park Monday afternoon right in stride.
Mark Olney, Winfield city parks supervisor, said between 50 and 60 ducks and Canadian Geese who claim the park appear unaffected by the fire, strangely dressed visitors, dense smoke and terrible smell that hovered over the city while the playground burned to the ground.
"I’m not aware of any problems," Olney said. "I’m sure they all took refuge."
The park is located at the north end of Main Street and surrounded by Timber Creek Lagoon.
