SOUTHAMPTON — The town will celebrate a new playground Saturday named for one who died too young to use it.
“Obie’s Playground,” which was installed at Conant Memorial Park in April, will be dedicated in a ceremony at 3 p.m. at the park.
“The First Congregational Church of Southampton UCC donated money collected in honor of Obed Warren Groggett who was the infant son of former Pastor Dee Ledger and her late husband, Reverend Frank Groggett,” Southampton Highway Superintendent Randall Kemp wrote in a Facebook post. “The Church wanted to provide a place for children to play in Obie’s honor.”
Obie died as an infant, according to Jennifer Valentine, pastor at First Congregational.
The dedication ceremony will feature a free carnival, including games and a grand prize of a gift card to Sheldon’s Ice Cream.
“We all worked hard to bring this project to fruition,” she said Thursday.
The playground is for younger children and is near the pavilion at Conant so that parents participating in pavilion events can keep an eye on their children, she said.
Saturday’s event will feature ring toss, a jet ski race, a doughnut-eating contest and other “old school” games, Valentine said.
“It is a gift to the community intended to let people play and have a good time and enjoy the summer,” she said.
Dave Eisenstadter can be reached at deisen@gazettenet.com.