Groundbreaking ceremony set for outdoor exhibit

Pictured is a design of the outdoor nature-inspired play space, Levi's Adventure Trail planned at Discovery Playhouse. Ground will be broken Tuesday on the project, which is comprised of five phases. The outdoor exhibit is in memory of 3-1/2-year-old Levi Collom of Benton, who died March 18, 2012. (Image courtesy of Hutchinson Recreation & Design)

BENTON -- Two years to the day of his unexplained death, Levi Collom's family will break ground on a community project that will forever lead them back to the 3-year-old boy who loved superheroes and the outdoors.

A groundbreaking ceremony for Levi's Adventure Trail is planned for 11:30 a.m. Tuesday on the vacant lot behind the Discovery Playhouse in Cape Girardeau, where he frequented with his family.

"This (groundbreaking ceremony) will be the day Levi died two years ago, but it's also going to be a new beginning for us as a family and community -- to begin Levi's Adventure Trail," said Levi's maternal grandmother, Viney Mosley of Cape Girardeau.

Levi, who is the son of Ellie and Glenn Collom of Benton, died from what is medically termed Sudden Unexplained Death in Childhood. SUDC is the sudden and unexplained death of a child who is over 1 year old.

"Levi's Adventure trail is being designed based on Levi's love of the river and the outdoors," Ellie Collom said.

According to his family, Levi's Adventure Trail will include everything that Levi loved the most, including camping with his family at Current River, spending time exploring, jumping, climbing and -- most of all -- playing in the river.

"The whole project will be built in five phases," Mosley said. "We're going to start phases one, two and three in this calendar year, and we hope to have them completed by the end of the year."

The project is broken down as follows: phase one, a pavilion and sand play area; phase two, "tot lot" and tricycle track; phase three, Sequoia log and bears; phase four, a river water feature; and phase five, large rocks and ropes made using PolyFiberCrete to create an ideal gripping surface for play.

Through the outdoor space, little explorers will hop on logs, splash in a stream and discover caves. Children, 12 and younger, will discover natural treasures in the hands-on exhibit. They can also float handcrafted boats and climb the two-story tree house and cross a swinging bridge.

For the complete story, see the Sunday edition of the Standard Democrat.