12-Year-Old Draws Plans For A Playground, The City Built It

October 15, 2024

Today's good news story comes from Clearfield City, Utah.

A 12-year-old girl’s playground vision has become a reality, thanks to the kindness and support of Clearfield City officials who embraced her creativity and passion for inclusive play.

Clearfield City Facebook

Earlier this year, young Rosili noticed that a new playground at Thornock Park was being built, but the equipment seemed more suitable for older kids. Concerned that she wouldn’t be able to enjoy it with her younger sisters, Rosili took matters into her own hands.

Armed with creativity and a passion for play, she sketched out her ideal playground, complete with detailed descriptions and labels.

Rosili / Clearfield City Facebook

With support from her mom, Rosili took her designs to Clearfield’s city hall, where she met with Eric Howes, the city’s community services director. Impressed by the effort and thought Rosili put into her drawings, Howes took time to review each of her sketches.

"She put a ton of time into that and a lot of thought, and she showed it from four different angles," Howes explained.

Although the Thornock Park playground was already in progress, the city had plans to build a new playground at Bicentennial Park, and Rosili’s designs were incorporated into the project.

Rosili was involved in every step of the process, working alongside city officials and playground equipment vendors to bring her vision to life.

"Every day that I would have to go there for another meeting, I would tell my friends and be like, 'Ah, I get to go again, woohoo!'" she shared with Fox 13.

Clearfield City Facebook

On Tuesday, Rosili’s dream playground was officially opened at Bicentennial Park.

Rosili, alongside her family, proudly cut the ribbon at the ceremony, creating a new play space for children of all ages to enjoy—a space that was imagined and brought to life by a young girl who believed she could make a difference.