The Nellie Hogan Park at 1230 S.E. Pinecrest Drive will soon receive new equipment for families with toddler aged children.

Nestled in a Pine-Crest neighborhood, the park has sat vacant with one swing set, a teeter totter, climbing sphere and plenty of green space. Tim Laurent, Shawnee County Parks and Recreation director, said the park will be a good addition for the neighborhood.

The new playground equipment will be provided by Cunningham Recreation for $29,686, in which funding is provided by the City of Topeka Dreams Grant. Shawnee County Commissioners Kevin Cook, Aaron Mays and Bill Riphahn approved the new equipment placement Thursday in a Shawnee County Commission meeting.

Changes to park come from community advocate

Formerly known as "Pine Crest Park," the name was changed in October 2022 to honor longtime community advocate, Nellie Hogan.

For 33 years, Hogan held various offices in the Hi-Crest Neighborhood Improvement Association. She served as a Camp Fire Girls leader for 15 years and as a room mother at Avondale East Elementary School where she organized after school programs, the parks and recreation website said.

"Shortly after we did that re-naming, we started talking about, 'Hey, let's look at some new playground equipment,'" Laurent told The Capital-Journal. "Our staff, Nellie and a few others of the neighborhood got together and decided what to pick."

Hogan mentored for three years in the Topeka Rescue Mission's Dare to Dream Program at Avondale East. She was a foster parent for many children and helped organize a Neighborhood Watch in Hi-Crest.

When can families in the neighborhood expect new equipment?

The timeline for playground equipment installation is still to be determined.

"I don't have the exact dates, but I would just guess that it will probably take about a month before you see some change," Laurent said. "It takes a little while for equipment to get here and a little dirt work and things beforehand."

The Capital-Journal couldn't reach Hogan.