The South Whidbey Parks & Recreation District will celebrate the completion of re-building the Castle Park playground from noon to 3 p.m. Saturday, May 8.

The public is invited to attend the celebration in community park. Commissioners, park staff and contractor Mike Skouras will be on hand to give tours and discuss the process of re-building the park.

The iconic South End playground closed at the end of October 2009.

New climbing and play features are installed, and the new castle provides a safe and roomy play experience for adults and children, according to parks director Terri Arnold. Light refreshments will be served in the community park picnic shelter.

In a recent audit report by certified playground safety inspector Mary Sue Linville, the new equipment is called excellent.

“The original construction and design made the structures very difficult to maintain,” she said. “The improvements in moving to composite wood and screws will greatly improve the longevity and maintenance of the structure.”