BISMARCK — Children were so excited about the new play equipment at Bismarck Park that they couldn’t wait to try it out — despite the “stay off” signs. Tell-tale signs of mud and dirt on the slide indicated that kids had slipped under the yellow tape.

But now, the playground equipment is open for business, just in time for the village’s Fourth of July celebration on Saturday. Earlier this week, volunteers put down the finishing touch — 12 inches of wood chips so the youngsters would have a soft and safe landing.

The playset is handicapped-accessible, as well, and is aimed at ages 5-12.

“I think the kids are going to enjoy it,” said Bonnie Bodensteiner, corresponding secretary with the Woman’s Club of Bismarck. Young mothers have expressed a need for playground equipment, she said.

“We’re just really pleased we got it done in a year,” said Nancy Gray, vice president of the club. “We didn’t think we could do it.”

The club raised about $10,000 through donations and grants to buy a modern playground set for the park. Fundraising started about two years ago, and the equipment was erected just this month.

“It’s been a long project, but it’s exciting to see it started,” said Karel Volpert, chairman of the Woman’s Club’s Community Improvement Program.

The park is owned by the Bismarck Lions Club, but the local chapter of the General Federation of Women’s Clubs-Illinois has adopted it as a project.

Members of the Woman’s Club and the Lions Club, as well as several community volunteers, worked at putting up the new equipment and also restoring the older pieces.

Last year, volunteers painted the horses, merry-go-round, swing sets and other pieces, and corrected safety issues.

This summer, volunteers put fresh coats of bright paint on the old equipment. Someone donated a horse swing made out of tires, and someone else donated two loads of pea gravel.

The volunteers gave the park a new look by painting polka dots on a concrete tunnel and even painting the trash cans.

Mary Jo Kelly and Misty Hillard took a yellow, round concrete block and drizzled red paint down the sides, so it resembles a paint can. They planted flowers in the middle and made a bouquet out of paintbrushes.

The small slide was refurbished with new stainless steel.

When it was time to pick up the new steel-and-plastic playset, Don Evans with the Lions Club drove to Pennsylvania to get it with an 18-foot flatbed trailer.

Dan Dunavan said at least 13 Lions Club members put 140 man hours into the project, not counting the work putting down the mulch and the timbers to surround the new area.

Several contractors donated their time and use of their equipment, including Ribbe Trucking, T.J. Ribbe, Larry Steinbaugh, Don Evans and John Brain. Evans with Evans Electric and Dunavan, a retired construction worker, oversaw the work.

Once the new pieces were assembled, the club members put yellow tape and signs around the area. They wanted children to stay off the playset until the volunteers had a chance to put down mulch and timbers around the perimeter.

Members of both clubs said they were pleased with all the volunteer labor.

“The teamwork and the camaraderie — the whole community pulled together and both groups pulled together,” Evans said.

Volpert said, “We’re so blessed to have an electrician, a contractor, a person who knows about flowers … we have so many people who have varying skills.”

And everyone especially appreciated all of the donations.

The Lions Club gave $3,300 raised from its pancake day and fish fry events. The John P. Cadle Foundation gave $4,000, Pleasant View Church gave $2,500, Keep Vermilion County Beautiful awarded a grant for planters and flowers at the park entrance and Wal-Mart donated $1,000.

Even children at Bismarck Grade School had a Pennies for Playground collection.

The rest of the money was raised through bake sales, a raffle and donations. The first donation came from two second-graders at Bismarck-Henning Elementary School who made $3-4 by selling lemonade.

While applying for grants, the Woman’s Club noted that the playground is used by children from surrounding communities, not just Bismarck.

Setting up the new playset completes Phase 1.

In Phase 2, the Woman’s Club hopes to raise more money to set up a toddler-friendly play area for ages 2-5 years. Again, they hope to raise $10,000.

Phase 3 would add more equipment and maintain the existing areas.

COMING UP

-- The Bismarck’s Men’s Club will sponsor a day of activities beginning about 10 a.m. Saturday at the park. Featured will be a softball tournament, food, bounce house, activities for children, silent auction for a hot-air balloon ride and raffle. Pulled-pork sandwiches and meals will be served from 5-8 p.m., and fireworks will be at dusk.

Proceeds go to the Men’s Club, which distributes them to various community groups.

-- To donate money for more playground equipment, call Karel Volpert at 497-7616 or 759-7667.