Utah girl’s drawing inspires city to build new playground where her younger sisters can play

This Utah girl’s imagination really did come to life.

Rosili Olsen, 12, convinced city of Clearfield officials last year to build a playground based on a design she put together with crayons and construction paper so her younger siblings could also have a place to run around.

The city’s initial plan for a playground in her neighborhood caught Olsen’s attention — and concern — because it appeared too difficult for her sisters, 4 years and 8 years younger than her, to play on, according to reports.

Rosili Olsen convinced city of Clearfield officials last year to build a playground based on a design she put together with crayons and construction paper so her younger siblings could also have a place to run around. Clearfield City / Facebook

“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 said in a Facebook post.

“After seeing her initiative and detail, we knew we had to make her dream happen.”

While construction at that playground near her home was too far along to change, there was another one that the city thought the girl could be involved in, according to KSL-TV.

Her drawings helped city workers come up with design mock-ups that she then reviewed to ensure the playground “checked all her boxes and got the colors right,” Clearfield said.

“It’s a really cool playground,” Rosili, who was 11 when she created the drawing, told KSL. “And, how do I say it? Just really cool.”

The city’s initial plan for a playground in her neighborhood caught Olsen’s attention — and concern — because it appeared too difficult for her sisters, who are 4 and 8 years younger than her. Clearfield City / Facebook
Her drawings helped city workers develop design mock-ups that she reviewed to ensure the playground “checked all her boxes and got the colors right,” Clearfield said. Clearfield City / Facebook

The playground opened last Tuesday with the Olsen family on hand for the ribbon cutting.

“It means a lot,” the preteen added. “And now I can, when I’m older, I can tell my boyfriends.”

Clearfield Community Service director Eric Howes commended her for working toward something constructive instead of the usual recourse many adults take – which amounts to complaining online.

“She saw something she didn’t like,” Howes told the station. “And rather than just complaining and writing a nasty social media post, she said, ‘I’m going to do something.’ And she did.”