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16 MINNESOTA Recreation and Parks • www.mnrpa.org Winter 2022 • MINNESOTA Recreation and Parks 17 <br />to Rockford, Illinois to be inventoried and safety inspected <br />before being shipped to Poland for children to enjoy. “It was <br />really revolutionary to the two cities in Poland,” says Bierhaus. <br />“The people came together and took ownership of it.” <br />The City of St. Louis Park repurposed the playground <br />structures at Oak Hill Park and Aquilla Park. “St. Louis Park is <br />a proud supporter of the Kids Around the World” program,” <br />says Jason West, recreation superintendent for the City of <br />St. Louis Park. “This program gives youth around the world <br />the experience of play. It is so rewarding to see our play <br />structures resurrected in locations such as Uganda, Jamaica, <br />Cuba, Jordan, North Korea and Costa Rica. The St. Louis Park <br />residents are always thrilled when we tell them which country <br />their play structures are repurposed. We feel that it’s just the <br />right thing to do and are very fortunate to be involved in a life <br />changing program such as Kids Around the World.” <br />In the past, the City of Eden Prairie worked with Kids Around <br />the World to donate their playground at Round Lake. “That <br />playground was shipped to Liberia, where children could <br />enjoy the playground a second time around,” says Bierhaus. <br />“It was the first playground the kids there had ever had.” <br />Before Kids Around the World was an option for used <br />playgrounds, many cities would recycle their structures as <br />much as they could. But then the remaining part would be <br />sent to the landfill. Most cities have liability and donation <br />issues so Kids Around the World can work with them to <br />provide donation agreements and certificates of insurance, <br />according to Bierhaus. <br />After the playgrounds are shipped to another country, <br />Bierhaus typically flies there and works with volunteers who <br />give their time and money to be a part of this experience. <br />Kids Around the World does not do all this work alone. “We <br />work with rotary clubs, church groups, and law enforcement <br />contacts,” says Bierhaus. “We then join forces to make it all <br />happen!” <br />If your community is interested in recycling a playground <br />structure, contact Paul Bierhaus at pobierhaus@aol.com or <br />612-239-8765. <br />Produce events? <br />Join us! <br />Minnesota Festivals & Events Association <br />2022 Annual Conference <br />March 23-25, 2022 <br />Mayo Civic Center, Rochester <br />SUPPLY CHAIN & LABOR • TALENT BOOKING • DE&I <br />STATE OF THE INDUSTRY • MARKETING • AND MORE! <br />IN-PERSON & VIRTUAL REGISTRATION FEES: <br />Through Feb 28: $200 members/$250 non-members <br />March 1 - Start of Conference: $250/$300 <br />Learn more & register at www.mnfea.com <br />HOSTED BY <br />BEFORE KIDS AROUND <br />THE WORLD WAS AN <br />OPTION FOR USED <br />PLAYGROUNDS, MANY <br />CITIES WOULD RECYCLE <br />THEIR STRUCTURES AS <br />MUCH AS THEY COULD. <br />BUT THEN THE REMAINING <br />PART WOULD BE SENT TO <br />THE LANDFILL.