The new playground in Sun Prairie won 't be the average swinging and sliding spot. At this play space, children will be able to sail a pirate ship, hide in a cave, climb a giant tree to a fort and star on stage at an opera house.

And they can do it all in a wheelchair.

After months of fundraising, the 85 percent handicapped-accessible Firemen 's Park in the Prairie is set to break ground in Angell Park next week, according to one of the project 's leaders, Rebecca Ketelsen. But volunteers, tools and $40,000 are still needed to complete the project.

About 1,000 volunteers will build the 12,500-square-foot park and playground Sept. 18-23.

"It 's like building two three-bedroom houses in six days, " Ketelsen said.

About 300 volunteers of all skill levels are still needed to help with various aspects of the project.

Ketelsen said "most of the jobs are unskilled. It 's very much just a giant jigsaw puzzle, putting this all together. "

Three architects from New York-based Leathers & Associates, which specializes in community playgrounds, worked with the Sun Prairie group in designing the play area and will oversee its construction.

The playground is planned to open as soon as construction is finished.

Money for the $189,000 project has come from individual donations, businesses and a $40,000 grant from the Madison Community Foundation. Half of that grant will be used as an endowment to take care of the park once it is built.

Sun Prairie 's Volunteer Fire Department, which donated land for the park, also will handle much of the maintenance. Broken equipment will get attention from high school students working to fulfill community service requirements for graduation.

However, the group still needs to raise about $40,000 to cover the park 's costs. A fundraiser will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday at Sun Prairie 's Westside Community Service Center, 2598 W. Main St., where a tile can be bought and decorated to be displayed on pillars around the new playground.

Donations also can be sent directly to Firemen 's Park in the Prairie, P.O. Box 747, Sun Prairie, WI 53590.

And in keeping with the playground 's community-based creation, workers are asking to borrow tools from the community. All tools will be returned in their original condition (If not, money has been set aside to replace them, Ketelsen said).

For more information on how to help, visit www.spfdp.com, or call Ketelsen at 825-7346.

-- Brittany Schoepp

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