Troutdale, Ore – There are few places where happiness and laughter are more prevalent than at the playground. It’s a place where the delighted screams of jubilation echo across the wind as children climb play structures, and where parents and grandparents can immersive themselves in the joys of play. For adults, the playground represents a forgotten connection to their own youth; and lets them reconnect with their past by playing with the children that now brighten their lives.
On a typical weekend, I usually take my daughter hiking, on a walk, or to one of the local playgrounds. Given the choice, however, she always has a clear preference.
“Where would you like to go today, honey?” I said,
“Imagination Station!” she exclaims
Nestled behind Reynolds High School in Troutdale, Oregon, is Imagination Station; a place that exemplifies everything a playground should be and more. It’s a place where the laughter and happiness of children are palatable, and the greater connection to the community is evident wherever you look.
The current playground is a sprawling structure with a bevy of activities for children to enjoy. There are slides, swings, round-a-bouts, and seesaws aplenty. The wooden structures connecting many of these activities are reminiscent of an old colonial fort, which references the City of Troutdale’s connection to the Oregon Trail.
Yet it’s how the playground lives up to the imagination moniker that sets it apart from other parks and play structures. Located across the grounds are xylophones for children to create music, murals of wizards, dragons, and even wooden ships and wagons for children to role-play and create their own unique games and adventures.
Whether it’s the colonial look of the wooden structures or murals of Oregon staples like Multnomah Falls, it’s clear that the playground is connected to the greater community of Troutdale, and Oregon at large. Built in 1994 by community volunteers, the playground has been a popular destination for families for over 25 years (City of Troutdale, 2021). It’s a bond that was put to the ultimate test in spring of 2016.
At 4AM on April 9th, 2016, local authorities responded to a fire that had engulfed Imagination Station (DeBow, 2018). By the time the flames had been extinguished, over one-third of the playground had been destroyed by the fire. More troubling was that police had identified arson as the cause of the fire. It was a moment that shocked and saddened the community.
While some communities might find themselves lost in the midst of such tragedy, the residents of Troutdale quickly sprang into action. Not long after the flames subsided, residents started the “Rebuild Imagination Station” Facebook group, and pledged their support to rebuild the structure (Facebook, 2016). At first, the group was a place for the community to share their grief and recall fond memories made on the playground. Eventually, when the city began ramping up efforts to rebuild the playground the page was a vital resource in communicating volunteer opportunities.
When construction to rebuild Imagination Station started in 2018, the city found itself awash with volunteers ready to do their part to bring back the park that had become such a positive staple of the community. In an interview with the Gresham Outlook newspaper, Tiffany Kallgren, a volunteer that dedicated nearly every weekend to helping rebuilding efforts, simply said “This was my kids favorite park.” (DeBow, 2018)
After nearly two and a half years of planning and volunteer work, Imagination Station reopened to the public on November 17th, 2018 (KATU, 2017). It was a moment that not only saw a return of laughter and happiness, but also one where the community itself had overcome tragedy and become all the stronger for it.
The arsonist that started the blaze was never identified, and the only evidence of their presence that remains is the grainy footage captured by the adjacent Reynolds High School security camera. The actions of their deed have been undone by a community that refused to let the crime dampen the joys of children.
As I take my daughter home for the day, her tiny hand engulfed in mine, we faintly hear the sound of an ice cream truck pulling next to the playground. We decide to stop and each grab a snow cone, finding a bench to sit on and enjoy the beautiful weather and the sugary rainbow concoction in our hands.
Looking into the playground, there’s no trace of the fire that engulfed much of the site. The cinder and ash that once devastated the community have been replaced with songs of joy and laughter. I see fathers pushing sons on the swing set, a mother spinning a group of children on the round-about, and kids playing pretend in an old western wagon; all completely immersed in play and imagination.
I turn to my daughter and ask her,
“Why do you love this playground so much?”
“I don’t know,” she says, “because I love it.”
For the Residents of Troutdale, it’s clear Imagination Station is emblematic of everything the city stands for. Regardless of the obstacle, residents have shown they’re committed to coming together and ensuring that Imagination Station will be a place where children can laugh, play, and dream for generations to come.
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