the dream of the purple octopus

Introducing the Purple Octopus Playground

Pick-a-Picket!

We invite you to personally be a part of the All-Abilities Purple Octopus Playground! Proudly show your support with an engraved fence picket that will encircle the playground for everyone to see. Thank you for partnering with us and supporting the Children's Museum!

Just click the Picket Fence Order Form button below, fill out the PDF, and send the completed form to info@abkids.org or mail to 902 North 8th Street, Sheboygan, WI 53081.

Individual/Family Fence Picket:
$150 each or 4 for $575

Corporate/Business Fence Picket:
$300 each or 4 for $1175

PICKET FENCE ORDER FORM

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What are the colors of the posts and engraved letters?  
    • All picket posts are white with the engraved lettering in blue. (The colors of our logo!)  
  • How many spaces are there on the posts for engraved letters?  
    • There are 17 spaces for letters on each picket post. Please include “_” for a space in between names. 
  • Where can I send my payment to?  
    • Please send checks to:  Jackie Erdman​, Above & Beyond Children’s Museum​, 902 North 8th Street​, Sheboygan, WI 53081 
    • We will accept checks dropped off at the Children’s Museum or mailed in. Please include PLAYGROUND in the memo line. 
  • Can I pay via credit card?  
    • We ask for payment to be made via a check dropped off or sent in the mail to the Children’s Museum (see address in the question above) 
  • How many picket fence posts will surround the playground?  
    • There are a total of 495 picket posts that will surround the Playground. Orders are taken on a first come, first served basis.
  • When can I anticipate my picket fence post(s) will be installed?  
    • We estimate that fence post(s) will be installed between June-August, 2022. Our team will contact you via email once your post has been installed, so please check your email before reaching out for an update. 
  • When will the Playground be completed?  
    • We anticipate the Playground will be ready by end of Summer/Early Fall.  

The Tale of the Purple Octopus Playground

We are THRILLED to announce our newest outdoor play space! The All-Abilities Purple Octopus Playground is now officially open!! 

As Above & Beyond Children's Museum continues to grow, we continue to assess how to bring our play spaces out into the wider community. The Children’s Museum is working to install a fully ADA-accessible public outdoor playground called the Purple Octopus Playground in our outdoor green space. 

We have the opportunity to build something that is as beautiful as it is fun to play on. An outdoor exhibit that children of all backgrounds and abilities will have the opportunity to interact with. 

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The Design

Instead of a standard playground, the Museum is connecting to the other public art pieces around the downtown area to bring something wholly unique to Sheboygan. We found that MONSTRUM, the internationally acclaimed playground company located in Norway, fit with our vision. They have perfected the art of creating playscapes that are artistic in nature, structurally sound, and focused on child development.

We have brought on Jos. Schmitt Construction to work alongside MONSTRUM to prep the site and install the equipment. Once completed, it will be 90 feet in length and 47 feet wide with landscape designed by Bookworm Gardens.

Click here for the full playground design by MONSTRUM.

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The Need

Downtown Sheboygan does not currently have a public outdoor play space that is specifically ADA-accessible. The playground is being designed with ADA-accessible components including a wheelchair transfer platform in the head of the octopus and ground-level accessible equipment and swing set. Parks and playgrounds are located some distance away from the main thoroughfare of the city and have to be accessed via transportation. Installing a playground within the Museum’s green space allows us to reach people of all socio-economic levels and abilities - whether they are just visiting Sheboygan or are growing up here.

Support the Playground
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The Support

Please consider a gift that will go towards the maintenance of the playground, so that it may be enjoyed by all for countless years to come!

Above & Beyond Children's Museum thanks the following individuals, corporations, and foundations for their support in building the Purple Octopus Playground: Jay Christopher, the French Family, Lions Club International Foundation, the City of Sheboygan, Melitta S. & Joan M. Pick Charitable Trust, Catharine B. Stayer Foundation, Ruth St. John and John Dunham West Foundation, Lawrence & Kathleen Gentine, Terry Kohler Family Foundation, Kohler Company, Van Horn Automotive Group, Kwik Trip, Harbor Centre Business Improvement District, Becca Grace Foundation, David R. Sachse and in memory of Sandra Sachse, Sargento Foods Inc., Kohler Foundation Inc., Emily Rendall-Araujo and family, Lions Clubs of MD27-B1, the Sheboygan Noon Lions Club, the Town of Sheboygan Lions Club, and the Sheboygan Evening Lions Club. 

Support the Playround