What started as a crayon drawing on construction paper has turned into a full-fledged reality for one determined 12-year-old girl in Utah. Rosili Olsen’s imagination took center stage when she convinced city officials in Clearfield to build a playground based on her design, ensuring that children of all ages—like her younger siblings—would have a space to play.
Last year, when Olsen learned of the city’s plans to build a playground near her home, she grew concerned. The design seemed too challenging for her younger sisters, who were 4 and 8 years younger than her, to fully enjoy.
Rather than settle for what was already planned, Olsen took matters into her own hands. “So, she designed a playground all ages could enjoy, came into city hall with the drawings, and asked for a meeting with the head of parks,” the City of Clearfield shared in a Facebook post. “After seeing her initiative and detail, we knew we had to make her dream happen.”
From sketch to reality
Although construction on the original playground was too far along to be altered, city officials saw an opportunity for Olsen to make her mark on another project. With Olsen’s sketches as inspiration, city workers developed design mock-ups for a different playground. They then sought her feedback to ensure the new park captured her vision, right down to the colours. “It’s a really cool playground,” Olsen, who was just 11 when she created the design, told KSL-TV. “And, how do I say it? Just really cool.”
A ribbon-cutting moment
Last Tuesday, Olsen and her family were on hand for the ribbon-cutting ceremony of the new playground. Reflecting on her achievement, the preteen expressed how much the project meant to her: “It means a lot. And now when I’m older, I can tell my boyfriends,” she said with a smile.
Clearfield’s Community Service Director Eric Howes praised Olsen’s proactive approach. In an era where complaints often take the form of social media posts, Olsen’s initiative stood out. “She saw something she didn’t like,” Howes told KSL-TV. “And rather than just complaining and writing a nasty social media post, she said, ‘I’m going to do something.’ And she did.” Thanks to Olsen’s creativity and determination, Clearfield now has a playground where children of all ages can play, a testament to how one young girl’s vision can spark real change in her community.