Frequently Asked Questions

The community has been asking for an upgraded playground since 2017, when the Jaycee Park Master Plan was created by input from residents and businesses. The target completion for the playground was the end of November 2025, and we exceeded that goal. By assembling all of the project funding by June 2025, the city was able to initiate the equipment order, dismantle the old equipment, and get to work on the new playground. As of mid-November 2025, the playground is open for the public to use and enjoy. 

The remaining elements, such as landscaping and adding benches, will be completed as early as the weather allows in 2026. A festive ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held in early summer 2026 to mark the project’s official completion. 

As of May 15, 2025, the city has received funding commitments for 78% of the $1.25 million needed. But we are not at the finish line, yet!

To unlock additional funding and build out the complete project this fall, we must reach the community crowdfunding goal of $75,000 by June 1, 2025. You might wonder why we have sponsorship levels up to $250,000 if our community crowdfunding goal is $75,000. The answer is simple: We’re still working to close a $270,000 gap to fund the full, inclusive design without delays or compromises. To do that, the city is actively pursuing multiple funding streams, including grants, business sponsorships, and the community crowdfunding campaign. Each piece is essential. The city is extremely hopeful that the numerous competitive grant applications that have been submitted will be successful and that the essential community crowdfunding goals can be met. Together, we can do this!

The following is the list of committed funds for the playground as of May 15, 2025:

There is no question that “playgrounds” are significantly more expensive than one might think. It is important to note that the estimated $1.25 million cost for the city’s new playground is not just the fun swings and tall slides. The playground budget is made up of three categories:

• EQUIPMENT & FREIGHT: 41% for the equipment and freight (the cost of shipping it to Grand Ledge).
• CONSTRUCTION: 38% for the construction, which includes all of the new ADA sidewalks, retaining walls (necessary due to the significant elevation challenges at Jaycee Park), poured-in-place rubber surfacing and artificial turf, railings, excavation, grading, and engineering.
• LABOR & CONTINGENCY: 21% for the person-power to do all of this work and contingency funds (critical to include for a project of this magnitude).

Playgrounds, especially those engineered to exceed ADA standards and meet Universal Design Principles, are more expensive than playgrounds without these amenities. For example, the universally accessible playground that opened in 2023 at Adado Riverfront Park in downtown Lansing cost $3.2 million to construct.

To ensure a high-quality product at the most responsible price, the city is utilizing a cooperative government purchasing program to source the playground equipment.

The new ADA Inclusive Playground’s design goes beyond the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards to meet Universal Design Principles, as verified by the Disability Network Capital Area. The playground was able to meet this high standard for its equitable, simple, intuitive, and flexible use. It will also have sidewalks that directly connect to other existing ADA sidewalks and the ADA Riverwalk Trail. The equipment provides both ramps and transfer areas, with play panels and free-standing play activities that can be accessed while sitting or standing. The surrounding playground surfaces will be poured-in-place rubber and artificial turf. There are both portable ADA restrooms within 150 feet and permanent ADA restrooms within 500 feet of the new playground. Jaycee Park offers over 100 parking spaces with 10 dedicated handicapped spaces.

All of this is to help ensure the new playground is easier to use for everyone, including those with disabilities, can enjoy the playground and the beauty of Jaycee Park.

The city welcomed over 57,000 visitors to Jaycee Park in 2024! The need for not only an inclusive play space but also ADA access into and out of the steep inclines of Jaycee Park is a necessity for numerous reasons, with two main areas of concern: people of all ages with mobility disabilities and an increasing aging population.

MOBILITY ISSUES. According to Census.gov, approximately 13% of Michigan residents, 18+ years old, have a mobility disability. Statistically, this equates to over 1,000 people in Grand Ledge, over 14,700 in Eaton County, and nearly 64,000 in the Tri-County Region of Eaton, Ingham, and Clinton Counties. For Michigan children over the age of 5, 7.6% have an ambulatory disability with serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs. The estimated number of children in the Tri-County area with ambulatory disabilities is nearly 3,500. Accessing pristine views of the Grand River and enjoying an outdoor setting with accessible play options is not only a concern for the person with the disability but also their family and friends who want to enjoy the outdoors and play together. Using the average family size of 3.1, these figures roughly equate to nearly 210,000 people in the Tri-County area who must carefully plan before visiting an outdoor park to ensure that everyone has safe options to play together.

AGING COMMUNITY. According to Census.gov, approximately 39% of people living in the state of Michigan are over the age of 50. The city’s population is 7,784, with just over 3,000 (39%) residents over 50. The draw to Jaycee Park is vast and brings more than just city residents to enjoy the no-cost outdoor park. Jaycee Park welcomes visitors from the Tri-County area of Eaton, Ingham, and Clinton Counties, of which 184,000 are over 50.

According to the AARP, in 10 years the population will reach the point where those over the age of 65 will surpass the number of those under the age of 18. The ability to access outdoor recreation activities, with younger family or friends, will be even more important. With many older adults wanting to “age in place”, Grand Ledge welcomes them with thoughtful amenities geared to help everyone stay active and connected. The city is focused on helping residents, and those residents within the surrounding communities, to live where their needs can be met.

The city has received tremendous support to bring a universally designed wheelchair swing to Jaycee Park. This initiative is separate from the new playground; however, space for the wheelchair swing has been integrated into the playground design while the city assembles the funding. The city has received a grant from the Michigan Paralyzed Veterans of America and a private donor through the Friends of the Grand Ledge Chamber of Commerce. To assemble the additional support needed for this wheelchair swing, the city has applied for funding through the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) for this $150,000 project.

This project is not for a typical wheelchair swing as the city seeks to bring a We-Go-Swing to Jaycee Park. The We-Go-Swing is a unique design that welcomes people of all ages and abilities, with space for wheelchair and non-wheelchair users to swing together. The nearest We-Go-Swings are more than 70 miles away, both located on the state’s east side. Jaycee Park will be the first in mid-Michigan to offer this inclusive amenity. 

More information about the We-Go-Swing: https://www.playlsi.com/en/commercial-playground-equipment/playground-components/we-go-swing/

Video of the We-Go-Swing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hAE19rI0VO0

If the city is successful with the DNR funding, the We-Go-Swing will be installed in the summer of 2026.

PAVILION: The city has received a lot of input regarding the pavilion that was removed in 2023 due to safety concerns. Due to the significant feedback, the city will be rebuilding a pavilion along with the new playground.

TREES: There will be two new trees planted with the landscaping for the new playground.