PORT ANGELES – Port Angeles City officials and the Dream Playground Foundation announced Monday that insurance funds have been confirmed for the rebuilding of the Dream Playground, which was largely destroyed by fire on December 20.

Parks & Recreation Director Corey Delikat said the Washington Cities Insurance Authority has confirmed that the City will be reimbursed for the arson damage. He said the estimated cost of the materials, play equipment and construction oversight necessary for the volunteer rebuild is just over $550,000 and will be fully covered by insurance.

On February 6th, the Port Angeles City Council approved $250,000 of Capital Lodging Tax Funding towards the project. At the time, Delikat informed both the Lodging Tax Advisory Committee and the City Council that if they received insurance funding, they would give those funds back to Lodging Tax.

Steve Methner, President of the Dream Playground Foundation, addressed the issue of donations that have been raised since the playground was burned, saying the Foundation is committed to honoring all the donated dollars and using them for the project. He said they will now be able to add some upgrades and improvements to the playground and possibly expand its footprint.

As of January 31, the public had raised around $200,000 toward the project.