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Refurbished Play Park Re-Opens To New Name
Play Park 1
As city officials and citizens look on, Oakdale Mayor Pat Paul gets ready to cut the ribbon to the newly refurbished and renamed Alex and Emma Play Park, which reopened on Tuesday, Nov. 3. Photo Contributed

On Tuesday, Nov. 3, the Oakdale Children’s Play Park re-opened with a ribbon cutting and new name: The Alex and Emma Play Park.

On behalf of the children of Oakdale, the City of Oakdale officials extended its appreciation to the residents, businesses and service organizations for their monetary and in-kind donations as well as the hundreds of hours of volunteer time and talent that each provided to this once-again beautiful play area.

With welcome and introductions by Mayor Pat Paul and City Manager Bryan Whitemyer, the ribbon was cut and dozens of children broke through paper chains to play on new slides, swings, bridges and other play structures.

The ribbon cutting and grand re-opening event was attended by community dignitaries as well as representatives of state and federal legislative members.

The Play Park Committee, which led the effort, and other volunteers were also recognized during the ceremony.

The play park, the Alex and Emma Play Park, is now named in memory of two members of the Gilbert family due to their generous donations. The A. L. Gilbert Company provided a full third of the funds needed to make the play park fabulous again.

The Oakdale Children’s Play Park, located on the southeast corner of A Street and Second Avenue, was originally constructed in October 1993 and rehabilitated in October 2015.