On the 10-year anniversary of the creation of Kade’s Playground, Herculaneum city officials celebrated the milestone by announcing Kade’s Next Chapter – The Adventure Continues, a new phase of development for the park.
Kade’s Playground, located at William C. Haggard City Park, 776 Joachim Ave., opened in 2015 as Jefferson County’s first universally accessible play space designed for children of all abilities.
Candace Siebert, Herculaneum park superintendent, said the playground has become a regional destination for families and welcomes thousands of visitors annually.
“Cell phone data shows that Kade’s Playground received more than 49,000 visitors between January 2025 and June 2025. That number doesn’t include the youngest children who don’t carry phones, so the actual total is even higher. It’s incredible to see how many people value and enjoy this park,” Siebert said.
She said the playground’s success has helped show Herculaneum’s commitment to inclusion and outdoor recreation and sets an example for how communities can design public spaces to serve those of all abilities.
Siebert said plans are under way to expand the playground with new features designed to enhance inclusion, comfort and community engagement. She said expansion plans include: a new dedicated early childhood play area; additional shade structures for comfort and accessibility; and a community-chosen interactive feature which integrates play, movement and technology for children of all ages and abilities.
She said the community can view the three possible new interactive features on the city’s website at cityofherculaneum.gov/kades-playground-fundraiser.
Siebert said the expansion to the playground is expected to be installed along the northeast side of the playground, just south of the restrooms, in what is currently an open grassy area on a slope. Before construction starts, the ground will need to be leveled to create a solid foundation for the new play area, she said.
Sibert said there is no set construction timeline and the project will move forward as funding allows. She said the city’s plan is to begin with the early childhood play area and shade structures first, as those are the most immediate priorities and will have the greatest impact for families.
“Right now, the section meant for younger children is shared by everyone, which can make it tough for toddlers to fully enjoy it. The new space will give our littlest visitors room to explore safely and play at their own pace, while still feeling connected to the rest of the playground,” Siebert said.
Siebert said the total cost for the early childhood area is about $185,000, and so far, they have raised a little over $14,000.
After completing the early childhood area, the city will continue working toward adding the interactive feature as funding grows, she said. The total amount needed for the interactive feature will depend on which option the community chooses.
Fundraising campaign
For this new phase of the park to become a reality, the city of Herculaneum has launched a sponsorship campaign and is inviting local residents and groups to invest in the project, Siebert said.
“We’re inviting individuals, businesses and community partners who care about accessible recreation to help us enhance this beloved space for generations to come,” she said.
Siebert said the city is hoping to fully fund the proposed expansion with those donations, rather than using city funds.
“We want this to be a community-driven project that reflects the strong local support behind Kade’s Playground,” she said. “While the city is fully supportive of the effort, the intent is to minimize the financial burden on taxpayers by securing outside funding whenever possible.”
Siebert said the city plans to apply for grants to help support the expansion, but many grants require matching funds, so she said the city’s current focus is on building a solid base of community contributions to use as matching funds before applying for those grants.
“It’s still early in the fundraising process, but we’re optimistic that we will have tremendous community support that will help us move forward quickly,” she said.
Siebert said contributions of any amount are desired, but donations larger than $500 will result in recognition at the park. Donor recognition can range from inclusion on a permanent donor wall to equipment sponsorship and naming opportunities for major park features.
Siebert said there will be several sponsorship levels, starting with the Wanderer Club at the $500-$2,499 donation level, Adventurer Club from $2,500-$4,999, Explorer Club from $5,000-$9,999, and the Trailblazer Club at $10,000 and above.
To kick off the campaign on the Nov. 1 anniversary, the city held a small, invitation-only event for those who have been directly involved with Kade’s Playground over the years, such as past donors, local businesses, city staff, Park Board members and community partners.
“The goal was to celebrate the 10-year anniversary and share the exciting plans for what’s ahead before introducing the expansion to the wider community,” Siebert said. “Kade’s family joined us for the celebration, which made the day even more meaningful.”
The event, which was held at Main and Mill in Festus, included basket raffles and a short video looking back at the playground’s construction, ribbon cutting and the opening of the Bay of Naples Splash Zone. Siebert said about $2,000 was raised for the park during the event.
“It was such a great turnout and a really positive afternoon that reminded everyone how much Kade’s Playground means to this community and how excited people are for what’s next,” Siebert said.
Those interested in supporting the project or viewing the concept rendering can visit cityofherculaneum.gov/kades-playground-fundraiser for details on sponsorship levels, donation options, potential interactive features and updates as the project progresses.
Donations may also be made by cash or check at City Hall during business hours; or by mail to City of Herculaneum, Attn: Parks Dept, 1 Parkwood Court, Herculaneum, 63048. Donations may also be made through the city's fundraising webpage.
For more information or to become a sponsor, contact Siebert at 314-504-8338 or csiebert@cityofherculaneum.gov.