It was hard to tell who carried the bigger smiles Thursday.
The handful of youngsters getting to try out the new indoor playground equipment at Iola?s First Baptist Church, 801 N. Cottonwood St., were squealing with delight at every turn, as expected.
Just as jubilant were the adults watching the fun from below.
?It?s incredible how well it?s made,? First Baptist Senior Pastor Randy Johnson said.
Brynnan Jones works on an art project in another area of the Kids Zone.
The two-tiered apparatus is a veritable labyrinth of ladders, lookout points, slides and other attractions, equipped for youngsters from toddlers to 12 years of age.
Crews were putting the finishing touches on the playground area in advance of Sunday.
A morning dedication service for the congregation will precede an open house, free to the community, from 1 to 3 p.m.
The playground is the final component of First Baptist Church?s Kids Zone addition.
Easton Higginbotham hangs onto one of the playground?s spinning features.
Over the past four years, the church has added a pair of classrooms, a Connection Zone recreation area and the playground, which occupies the north half of what used to be the church?s gymnasium
?It?s been a four-year process,? Johnson said. ?We voted on a committee in December 2015, but we weren?t sure what we were going to do.?
The congregation considered building across the street from the church, at the intersection of Cottonwood and Carpenter streets, before agreeing to add on to the existing building.
?From that point to this, we did a capital funds campaign to pay cash, so we didn?t have to borrow money,? Johnson said.
