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Nose for News by Sarah Stultz

Last year I was proud to be a part of something magical in Albert Lea.

The All Together Albert Lea Inclusive Playground Committee, together with the Albert Lea Convention and Visitors Bureau, brought in Great American Kites & Events out of Missouri to put on a larger-than-life kite festival for the new inclusive park.

In addition to the large kites, there were food trucks, a raffle with prizes, a dunk tank, face painting and a ring toss.

I remember not only the crowds of people who came out that day to support the event but also the feeling of inclusion that was present.

It was a beautiful reflection of what we hope the playground has come to represent in the community and will continue to promote once it is built in just a few short weeks.

Thanks to a match of some generous donors, at the end of the day the event last year brought in about $90,000 for the playground. We were ecstatic!

We couldn’t pass up the opportunity to bring the event back again this year as we’re in the winding down stages of fundraising for the playground — about $40,000 to go from our last calculations.

It has been a long couple years fundraising for the playground, but we’re so thrilled that it will be built yet this fall.

Though we don’t have a match this year, we are hopeful to raise the remainder of what is needed. We thank everyone who has contributed to this event in one way or another.

This year we will bring back all of the fun events from last year.

The dunk tank will run the entirety of the event and includes the following kind souls, who agreed to be dunked:

• 11-11:30 a.m.: Albert Lea City Councilor Larry Baker

• 11:30-Noon: Albert Lea City Manager Ian Rigg

• Noon to 12:30 p.m.: Trinity Lutheran Church Pastor Eileen Woyen

• 12:30 to 1 p.m.: Albert Lea firefighter Brad Skogheim

• 1 to 1:30 p.m.: HOPE Church Pastor Kaleb Hurley

• 1:30 to 2 p.m.: Albert Lea Police Lt. Jeff Strom

• 2 to 2:30 p.m.: Freeborn County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Tim Bennett

• 2:30 to 3 p.m.: Albert Lea Family YMCA Executive Director April Jeppson

• 3 to 3:30 p.m.: Mayo Ambulance EMT Lane Coffman

• 3:30 to 4 p.m.: Rachel Cole

We will also have Nel’s Diner, The Candy Shop, Praeliza Fusion Kitchen, Chencho’s Antojitos, Smokin’ Barrel Barbecue, B-Lo Zero Sno Cones and Delicious Pupusas. We’ve added a few food trucks this year because of the long lines last year.

If you didn’t get a chance to make it last year, we hope to see you this year! There is a suggested $5 donation per person to enter.

Handicapped parking will be available at Edgewater Park, while others are asked to park at Southwest Middle School and be brought in by bus.

Sarah Stultz is the managing editor of the Tribune. Her column appears every Wednesday.