Renovated park at Kagman Community Center unveiled

Showing their commitment to the community and bringing smiles to countless children’s faces, the Division of Youth Services-Child Protective Services, Rotary Club of Saipan, Northern Marianas Housing Corp., and Saipan and the Northern Islands Municipal Council officially opened the renovated Kagman Community Center park in Kagman II last Friday.

The facelift to the park included a revamped basketball court, sidewalk, solar lights, and a full and brand-new children’s playground filled with swings and colorful and fun structures for children of all ages. Two of the structures, unlike any other park on island, are shaped like an adventurer’s ship and a Caterpillar loader with slides coming out of each.

DYS director Vivian Sablan said she was grateful for the partnerships while working on the $200,000 project.

Sablan told Saipan Tribune that they couldn’t have done it on their own and the effort was truly a showcase of partnership between agencies.

She is also happy to see that it’s already bringing smiles to the children of Kagman II and hopes to see more community involvement and family engagement because of it.

Speaking on behalf of the Rotary, sergeant-at-arms Curtis Dancoe shared, “We do community service projects, and we’re really happy and fortunate to work with these agencies who are represented here today and doing something for the kids. It’s been a couple of phases. It was a bit aggressive to envision something that we see here today and it wouldn’t have been possible without the governing agencies and the commitment and dedication from the community of Kagman. So, we appreciate that very much.”

During the ribbon-cutting ceremony, three young individuals involved in the park also shared their comments and gratitude and one of them was youth basketball leader Reed Camacho.

“I couldn’t be more excited about what’s happening to our Kagman Community Center. Listen, I know some people might say it’s just a renovation. But to me, it’s so much more. It’s an investment in our community and in our kids’ future. It’s about giving them a place to play and make memories that will last a lifetime. So, hats off to everyone who made this happen. Our park has never looked better and I can’t wait to see what adventures await us here.”

And he wasn’t the only one who felt that way as stealing the hearts of many at the ceremony, elementary student and DYS after-school participant Nhalia Raas and her peers took the stage to say a big thank you for the playground.

“Thank you for those who helped and had the idea to do it. We hope you enjoy it as much as we did,” she said, to which all the kids shouted together, “Thank you for the new playground!”