By Aidan Mortensen | KOAL News
As the proposal for an all-abilities playground comes closer to becoming a reality, community members and businesses continue to give to the project in hopes that every child will have a place to play in Emery County.
Looking to push the project ever closer to completion, Castleview Hospital CEO Mark Holyoak stopped by a recent meeting of the Castle Dale City Council to provide a $7,500 donation to the city.
Holyoak characterized the donation as a direct reflection of Castleview’s mission of “Making Communities Healthier.”
“I’m here this evening to show support for the all-abilities park that the council is moving forward with. So with that, I have a donation here, Mr. Mayor, for $7,500 toward that,” said Holyoak.
Mayor Danny Van Wagoner shared his gratitude for Holyoak and Castleview,” This is their second time here, giving this money. I really appreciate it, and it’s going to be a wonderful park.”
Despite its central location in Price, Castleview Hospital has a direct tie to Emery County through the Emery Medical Center located in Castle Dale.
The donation marks the latest in a long string of community involvement with the project. In October last year, eight-year-old Axel Mead donated $6,000 to the project. “I can’t wait to see the park built right here in Castle Dale,” expressed the young cowboy.
In January, the Emery County Commission got involved with the playground, approving a proposal to move forward with the donation process to give land to the project.
“We’re working with Castle Dale City, and they’re going after grant funding and CIB funding, and there have been a lot of other donations given to them,” said Emery County Commissioner Jordan Leonard in a previous conversation with Castle Country Radio. “We’re way excited about an all-abilities park, it gives our citizens another opportunity to get the kids out and enjoy the outdoors for those that may not be able to play at a park just down in the city.”
The Castle Dale all-abilities playground would be the second such structure in the Castle Country. The first, the Helper Express All-Abilities Playground, celebrated its grand opening in 2025 after four years of planning and construction.