GRIC Funds Unique New Musical Playground in Casa Grande

Roberto A. Jackson

Communications & Public Affairs Office

Children will now have some musical options to explore at the Eastland Park Musical Playground in Casa Grande thanks to funding by the Gila River Indian Community.

The City of Casa Grande and the City’s Arts & Culture Commission hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by Lt. Governor Regina Antone, along with a delegation of GRIC Community Council Representatives and the Office of Special Funding to commemorate the opening of a musical playground on Wednesday, July 10 at Eastland Park. The playground renovation was funded by the Community via a State Shared Gaming Grant awarded in July 2023.

“The children were eager to run to the playground and try out all the instrumental stations. To see the partnership with the two Communities was a sign of great teamwork and an invested interest in the future,” said Lt. Gov. Antone.

The park features musical playground equipment designed to stimulate a child’s sense of hearing. The children can choose from percussive or melodic options while enjoying the park.

Casa Grande Mayor Craig H. McFarland recognized the Community and Lt. Gov. Antone in his welcome address.

“Thanks for making this happen,” McFarland said of the Community’s role in funding the project.

McFarland said that Casa Grande has revamped many public parks in the city and the new equipment will be a welcome addition for children with unique sensory skills.

The Mayor also called the project a “win-win” for the impact that it will have on the local community.

“This is a perfect example of getting together, and putting together a project that is good for the community,” he told the attendees.

Jo Hanken, Chair of the Arts & Culture Commission, said that children will develop musical skills with the new equipment. She said the new area, “allows adaptive and inclusive play.”

Lt. Gov. Regina Antone thanked the City of Casa Grande for the invitation and introduced the GRIC delegation: District 1 Council Representatives Duane Jackson and Joey Whitman; District 3 Council Representatives Avery White and Joseph Manuel Jr.; and Cheryl Pablo, Program Administrator with the Office of Special Funding.

With the ribbon-cutting complete, the children quickly tested all the equipment for the first time.

“I thank Cheryl Pablo, the Program Administrator for the Gila River Office of Special Funding, the Committee and the Tribal Council, who work to support the funding of this program by going through hundreds of applications every year,” said Lt. Gov. Antone. “Then to see the finished project is simply amazing.”