This summer children in Abita Springs will have a lot to celebrate.

The new playground will be built in the park in late June, and a new water feature is set to be constructed even earlier than that.

Members of the non-profit group Friends of the Park are seeking out some extra hands to help construct the new playground. Volunteers are needed to come out June 25-29 to help build the playground, which has been designed by Learning Structures of Strafford, N.H. The group used information it gathered after talking with children and parents from the Abita Springs area when designing the playground, making it unique to Abita Springs.

Aspects of the playground, such as a miniature ABC Grocery facade, will highlight the town’s history.

Sheri Sable Campbell, the town’s mayor pro tem and public relations chair for Friends of the Park, said the group is still actively raising funds for the playground, and no times have been set for the build days.

She said volunteers are needed to not only build the playground but also to help prepare food for the workers and to baby sit children while parents are working, and there is a job for everyone.

Contact abitaparks@gmail.com to sign to help.

Campbell also announced at the town’s Board of Aldermen meeting last Tuesday evening that the group recently received a $20,000 grant from the Northshore Community Foundation. She said that will help with paying for the playground equipment, but they are still in need of donations.

The group is selling sponsorships for individual pieces of equipment as well as for the pickets on the fence that will surround the toddler area.

The group is also selling raffle tickets, which are available at Town Hall.

The winner of the raffle will receive two season passes for LSU football.

While the Friends of the Park continues to raise money for the playground, the town is negotiating a contract with Water Park Features Inc. out of Texas to construct an interactive water feature in the park.

The water feature will be similar to what is located at the Mandeville Trailhead but will be larger, measuring 50 feet in diameter.

Plans are to also incorporate a light feature. Both the lights and water sprays will be controlled by a computer program and could be synchronized to accompany musical performance.

Work will begin on the water feature after the Crawfish Festival, which will be held in the park on May 3 from 11 a.m. to midnight.

The festival, which is a fund-raiser for Fire District 8, will include performances by Rockin’ Dopsie, the Chee Weez and Christian Serpas.

Plans are to have the feature completed in time for when the local children get out of school for the summer in late May.

With the exception of the weekend of the festival, musical performances will take place in the Trailhead Plaza in conjunction with the New Harmonies exhibit, which is running through May.