MADISON – The Kids Kingdom playground at Dublin Park has been the source of many fond memories for almost 25 years. It will close on Sept. 6 to be demolished and rebuilt into a new, inclusive playground where kids of all abilities can play.

The Madison Parks and Recreation and MVP Madison Visionary Partners have teamed up to provide families one last time to enjoy the wooden playground. On Saturday, August 20, from 3-5 p.m., they are hosting “Playdate at the Kingdom.”

Melanie Thornton, Executive Director of Madison Visionary Partners, said Rita’s Ice will be there to offer cool treats and information on the new playground will be available.

“The playground started out as a big community event. It means a lot to the Madison community. People are going to be sad to see the original structure go, but I also think that people are going to be excited about what is to come that’s new,” said Jane Dow, who headed the committee that brought the community together to build the beloved wooden structure that so many families have enjoyed throughout the years.

“The playground started out as a big community event. It means a lot to the Madison community. People are going to be sad to see the original structure go, but I also think that people are going to be excited about what is to come that’s new,” Dow recently stated.

The wooden structure has exceeded its life span. Paired with the need for an inclusive playground in Madison, the Go Build a Kingdom committee was formed by community and civic leaders to raise funds to not only renovate Kids Kingdom but make it universally inclusive, allowing children of all abilities to play.

”Community efforts such as the one behind Kids Kingdom, both then and now, is what Madison does best,” Thornton added.

To date, the Go Build a Kingdom committee has raised over $550,000.

For more information on Kids Kingdom, visit gobuildakindgom.com.