New playground equipment at Glade Edwards Park

The Town of Thermopolis installed new playground equipment at the Glade Edward’s Park located at 226 South 3rd Street, which is just east of the railroad tracks. The money to fund this new equipment came in two parts and about $33,958 came from the Glade Edward’s Foundation.

The new equipment was added at the south end of the park. It includes several slides, a climbing area, and places to play on. They also added fresh mulch all around. The installation occurred last fall.

Assistant to the Mayor Jim Jeunehomme said that Glade Edward’s Park was originally founded in the 1960s, around the same time as the other parks in Thermopolis. The town recently poured new cement for the basketball court at the family park and also installed new equipment there too. Jeunehomme said the next significant upgrades will come to Candy Jack Park.

The Glade Edward’s Foundation is a three-person board that donates the interest from its endowment. Chairman Jim Wilson, director Amy Ready and director Dana McDermott all work together to decide who or what to fund. They were appointed by a judge to be board members. The donations must be used for projects or causes that exist directly in Hot Springs County.

Glade Edwards was a rancher on Black Mountain and passed away. Attorney Ruth Clare Yonkee Johnson was an original board member. The board was in charge of leading the foundation’s activities, where Edward’s ranch was sold, and its funds went to the foundation. 

People in Hot Springs County can apply to receive funding from the foundation. Some of the previous funding went to the skate park, lamps, the 4-H camp, the Hot Springs County Fair, the library, the county museum and others.