Accessible playground taking shape at Talkeetna church

Church ministries and missions take many forms. At Wasilla-based Church on the Rock, serving and loving others like Jesus served and loved is part of the DNA of the church.

Through its four Mat-Su campuses – Wasilla, Palmer, Willow, and Talkeetna – Church on the Rock operates on the belief that the church is the physical representation of the body of Christ in the world today. In addition to fundamentals like worship and evangelism, Church on the Rock prioritizes fellowship, discipleship, and compassionate care for others, while seeking to develop healthy families and create a legacy of people who love, live and lead like Jesus.

Codie Farrington, lead pastor at the Talkeetna branch, said that mission led to a vision that the church would serve not only as a gathering place for worship, but also as a cornerstone for the communities in the upper Susitna Valley. To that end, the dream of a playground on church property began to take shape in 2022. The dream lives on today. Farrington said the church is in the process of transforming the existing playground into an inclusive, multi-use facility that includes accessible play equipment for children of all abilities, a multi-sport court for basketball, pickleball, and tennis, as well as a gazebo picnic area to encourage meaningful family connections.

“As a church, we aim to provide such value to our neighbors that our presence is indispensable, and this playground expansion is a tangible expression of that goal,” he said. “A welcoming and inclusive playground reflects the values of the Gospel – serving families, the next generation, embracing all people, and promoting healthy relationships.”

The playground expansion project got a huge boost recently when the Mat-Su Health Foundation stepped in and awarded Church on the Rock a $128,018 grant. Farrington called the grant “incredibly generous” and said it would help construction get started as soon as the snow clears in the spring.

“Grants and partnerships like the one with Mat-Su Health Foundation are critical to our operation, enabling us to dream and act boldly for the sake of our community,” he said. “This grant will greatly increase our ability to see Gospel-centered gatherings in every Alaskan community by enhancing our ability to serve as a hub for connection and growth.”

The Mat-Su Health Foundation has been making investments in community health and wellness since 2007, when it became part owner of the Mat-Su Regional Medical Center. In the last 17 years, the Foundation has returned more than $130 million of its share of hospital profits to the community in the form of grants to nonprofit organizations, like the one for the playground.

Farrington said its about more than just a playground, though.

“It is essential to our values as a church that seeks to serve and love our community by meeting practical needs and providing resources of value,” he said. “The Mat-Su Health Foundation’s encouragement to us throughout this process to dream bigger as they collaborated with us is a testament to their great love for, and generosity to, the people of the Mat-Su Valley.”