A ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Jack Hardie Park playground with city officials and the Lake Havasu Area Chamber of Commerce was celebrated Monday morning.

The playground has rubber flooring to allow access for all abilities, slides, and features a hot air balloon at the top of the equipment for decoration.

Jack Hardie’s grandchildren, Jason Hardie and Jennifer Hardie Bailey, were on hand for the event and even received the ribbon from the Chamber of Commerce.

Jack Hardie, for whom the park is named, was a Lake Havasu City pioneer. He was a writer, editor and inventor and was well known as a former editor of the Havasu News Herald.

“Grandpa Jack died when we were quite young,” said Jennifer Hardie-Bailey. “We remember him as a fun, funny guy. That was passed down to my dad. We laugh a lot.”

“It (opening of playground) means a lot cause it means my new grandson that will be playing here quite often,” said Jason Hardie.

“It’s another generation of kids getting to love it. It’s beautiful, love the ground. Very proud to be here,” Hardie-Bailey said.

Here are photos from the event.

Sage Allen and Finley Commans play on the new playground at Jack Hardie Park Monday morning. Jillian Danielson/RiverScene

Jillian Danielson/RiverScene

Mayor Cal Sheehy and Anthony Kozlowski speak to the group in attendance during the ribbon cutting Monday morning. Jillian Danielson/RiverScene

Olivia Willoughby slides down a the new playground equipment at Jack Hardie Park Monday. Jillian Danielson/RiverScene

Jillian Danielson/RiverScene

Janina Robertson of the Lake Havasu Chamber of Commerce, presents Jennifer Hardie-Bailey the ribbon from the ribbon cutting Monday. Jillian Danielson/RiverScene

Jennifer Hardie-Bailey, Mayor Cal Sheehy, and Jason Hardie pose for a photo at the Jack Hardie Park ribbon cutting. Jillian Danielson/RiverScene

Jillian Danielson/RiverScene

Jillian Danielson/RiverScene

Alia Sniadecki climbs the playground equipment at Jack Hardie Park Monday. Jillian Danielson/RiverScene

Jillian Danielson/RiverScene

Sage Allen plays on the new playground equipment at Jack Hardie Park Monday. Jillian Danielson/RiverScene

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