Playground to honor local youth

ALAMOSA — Volunteers will build a completely new playground in Alamosa all in one day on Saturday — and already have a name for it.

The Alamosa city council last night unanimously voted to name the new playground near Lee Field “Peyton’s Play Ball! Park.” The park will honor local youth Peyton Sanchez who in spite of his own health challenges dealing with neurofibromatosis has undertaken fund-raising activities for charitable causes every year since 2014 when he was only 8 years old. Donations at his free lemonade stand at SummerFest on the Rio have supported various causes ranging from art supplies for the children’s hospital to support for the Jerry Reed scholarship

“Peyton has demonstrated extraordinary community spirit,” Alamosa Parks & Recreation Director Andy Rice told the city council Wednesday night when he requested that the new park be named in Peyton’s honor. “Here’s an individual who continually gives back to the community.”

Rice said it is also significant that the new playground will be adaptive, accommodating young people like Peyton who are in wheelchairs. Rice said Peyton was one of the young people who provided ideas for the new playground, which is a joint project of Colorado Health Foundation, Kiwanis Club of Alamosa, City of Alamosa, and KaBOOM!

He added that there will be an area of the park for wiffle ball, appropriate for a “play ball” park.

Alamosa City Councilor Kristina Daniel said she plays ball at Lee Fields every week and is excited over the prospect of this playground where youngsters can play while their parents are involved in games. She said it would allow more families to enjoy the fields together.

Councilor Liz Thomas Hensley, who is involved in the Saturday build day as a city councilor and member of Kiwanis, said she appreciated how all of the groups were supportive of naming the playground in Petyon’s honor.

Mayor Ty Coleman added, “Peyton is an amazing person, an extraordinary person who does wonderful things. He’s probably one of the most unselfish people I have ever encountered.”

Most of the council will be on hand Saturday to help build the playground, and many more volunteers of all levels of skill and ability are invited to sign up to participate. The playground will be built on Saturday, June 30, from 8:30 a.m. – 3 p.m. at Lee Field Athletic Complex, 2222 Old Sanford Road, Alamosa. Breakfast, lunch and water will be provided. RSVP at: https://www.tfaforms.com/4676480 or to Liz at (719) 580-0201 or [email protected]