Sisters’ vision paved way for Portage play park
Portage dedicates Kids Place playground sign in honor of pair who led fund raising
Kids Place, a large wooden playground area at Crichton McCormick Park in Portage, is shown. Courtesy photo
Naomi Stager (third from right) and her family members unveil a sign dedicating Kids Place at Crichton McCormick Park in Portage in her and her sister’s honor. Courtesy photo
Kids Place, a large wooden playground area at Crichton McCormick Park in Portage, is shown. Courtesy photo
A sign dedicating Kids Place in honor of Dawn Tomasko Kline and Naomi Tomasko Stager was unveiled last week at Crichton McCormick Park in Portage. Courtesy photo
Kids Place, a large wooden playground area at Crichton McCormick Park in Portage, is shown. Courtesy photo
Kids Place, a large wooden playground area at Crichton McCormick Park in Portage, is shown. Courtesy photo
Naomi Stager (third from right) and her family members unveil a sign dedicating Kids Place at Crichton McCormick Park in Portage in her and her sister’s honor. Courtesy photo
Kids Place, a large wooden playground area at Crichton McCormick Park in Portage, is shown. Courtesy photo
A sign dedicating Kids Place in honor of Dawn Tomasko Kline and Naomi Tomasko Stager was unveiled last week at Crichton McCormick Park in Portage. Courtesy photo
Kids Place, a large wooden playground area at Crichton McCormick Park in Portage, is shown. Courtesy photo
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PORTAGE -- Thirty years ago, sisters Dawn Tomasko Kline and Naomi Tomasko Stager envisioned bringing a one-of-a-kind playground to Portage after seeing a large wooden playground in another town.
According to Shannon Weber, Stager's daughter, they wanted to build a place that would spark imagination, encourage adventure and welcome every child. In 1998, their vision became Kids Place, a wooden playground area inside Crichton McCormick Park.
Last Sunday, July 19, officials gathered at the park to unveil a new sign that welcomes visitors to Kids Place and dedicates the site in honor of Kline (in memoriam) and Stager.
"When you look at this playground, you aren't just seeing wood, slides and swings -- you are seeing what can happen when an entire community comes together with a shared dream," said Sheri Nolan, who delivered the ceremony's opening remarks.
The story of Kids Place began in 1996 when Kline saw a large wooden playground in another town and asked Stager, "'What if we could bring something like this here,'" Weber said.
Initially known as Project Kids Place, the idea gained the support of the Portage Area Joint Parks and Recreation Commission, as well as leaders from the borough, township, school board and the community, Weber said.
The duo knew the playground couldn't just be built for the children -- it had to be designed by them, Weber said, adding that an architect for the project met with elementary school students in May 1997 and took their imagination seriously.
The sisters asked Weber to create a logo inspired entirely by the children's drawings. That artwork became the face of Project Kids Place, appearing on everything for the campaign, Weber said.
The next challenge was raising $100,000 for the project, she said.
"With the help of a few volunteers, Dawn and Naomi organized every fundraiser imaginable -- beginning with raffling a playhouse built by students in the Portage High School woodworking class to penny drives and placemat advertising," Weber said, adding they requested donations and sponsorships for everything from engraved pickets to play areas.
They were thankful for Sharon Grove's key contributions in the effort, Weber said.
When the dust settled, the project raised over $80,000 in cash and countless donations of raw materials, Weber said.
"Piece by piece, the price tag came down because the generosity of this town went up, and the sisters credited this to the entire community," Weber said.
As construction approached, a dedicated committee organized every detail of what would become one of the largest community volunteer projects in Portage's history, she said.
The project took five days to build in May 1998, according to son-in-law Donald Lonnquist.
Two solid weeks of rain turned the site into a muddy marsh that was affectionately dubbed "the pit," Lonnquist said.
"Even heavy trucks got completely bogged down while trying to drill post holes. But Portage did what Portage does best: we kept going," Lonnquist said.
On Wednesday, May 13, 1998, 135 people showed up to brave the mud and set the initial posts. By Sunday, the number swelled to an astonishing 350 volunteers working across three grueling shifts from 7:30 a.m. to midnight, he said.
Kids Place later expanded to add a pirate ship to the fleet of playground features, bringing a whole new wave of imagination to a new generation of children, Lonnquist said.
Amanda Kline, Dawn Kline's daughter-in-law, expressed gratitude and appreciation for everyone who helped create the sign commemorating 30 years of Kids Place.
Last year, Nolan, a member of the Portage Area Joint Parks and Recreation Commission, reached out to Weber with the idea of dedicating the playground.
Nolan, along with the entire commission, has done an immense amount of work behind the scenes to make the dedication happen, Kline said.
Portage Area School Board President Kathy Hough was able to get the sign printed at the high school; Jerod Pollock created the strong frame support for the sign holder; and Ryan Bednarski took on the challenge of creating the sign's structure, donating his time and materials, Kline said.
Of course, the sign needed a permanent home, she said, thanking commission member Perry Scarton and the entire park maintenance crew for being helpful in supporting the project.
"They also provided the perfect location and poured the concrete base that anchors this sign in the park's history," Kline said.
Mirror Staff Writer Matt Churella is at 814-946-7520.