Who’s ready to play?

We congratulate The Adventure Playground task force in Fairmont for the completion of its project. The site will open Tuesday, with a ribbon-cutting at 3:30 p.m. at Gomsrud Park.

Adventure Playground offers a place for all abilities, physical and cognitive. The $500,000 project is designed to handle multiple children and adults, with transfer points for people to get in and out of wheelchairs and onto the equipment.

The playground is a welcome addition to local park amenities and will be used by many for years to come. Kudos to the task force.

Mini golf adding 9 holes

There was more good news on the local parks and recreation front this week. Kids Just Want to Have Fun, a subgroup of Project 1590, briefed the park board on plans to add nine holes to the mini golf course next to the Fairmont Aquatic Park.

The mini golf course is open to the public at no cost. Five places provide clubs at no cost: Graffiti Corner, Martin County Library, Fairmont Aquatic Park, Fairmont Holiday Inn and Sommer Outdoors. There are currently nine holes at the site.

The park board has approved $10,000 for the new holes, but the Kids group will find the rest of the $70,000 needed.

Bill tackles police reform

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz this week signed a sensible police reform bill. It marked a bipartisan compromise, with Republicans ensuring that the measure did not go too far and hamstring law enforcement.

The bill bans chokeholds and neck restraints, such as the one that killed George Floyd in Minneapolis and sparked outrage across the country. The bill also bans “warrior-style” training for police, creates an advisory council for the state board that licenses officers, makes changes in arbitration rules affecting police unions and requires more training for police in order to deal with people with mental health issues.

Mob has more rights?

A St. Louis couple made national news this week for displaying guns outside their home after protesters broke down a gate to a private street on which the couple live. The couple emerged from their house and told protesters to “go.” St. Louis’ top prosecutor charged them with a felony for unlawful use of a weapon, even though they never fired a shot.

Thankfully, Missouri leaders — the attorney general and governor — plan to intervene, with the governor ready to issue a pardon for the couple, if necessary. What a world it is when you are charged for defending your home against the mob.