LEWISTON – The line to get on the playground slide didn’t let up, not in deference to Mayor Larry Gilbert or to any of the dignitaries on hand Monday morning to officially open a new park on Knox Street.

The officials might have been there to speak and cut ribbons, but the kids were there to play. And they did, swinging on the swings, sliding on the slide, squealing and climbing while the adults tried to talk over the the din.

“I’ve taken the opportunity to drive by this park a lot last week, just to see if it’s being utilized,” said former City Councilor Norm Rousseau. “I’m glad to see that it is.”

City officials, representatives from the local Rotary and Kiwanis clubs, the Visible Community and the Downtown Neighborhood Task Force were all represented Monday at the grand opening of the park near the southwestern corner of Knox and Maple streets. The park is meant to replace a smaller park around the corner on Maple Street.

The city removed that park’s playground equipment in 2004 before demolishing the nearby Ritz Cafe building. That was part of a planned Heritage Initiative that called for building a boulevard through the area.

Neighbors and the Visible Community protested, and the city backed off from the boulevard plan. The park equipment was put in storage, and neighbors protested to get the park put back.

Councilors worked out an agreement last fall. Then-councilor Rousseau traded land he owned on Knox Street to the city in exchange for another parcel in town and $15,000 to help develop the park. It uses the original Maple Street equipment, donated to the city by the Rotary and Kiwanis clubs in 2001.

“When the residents and the Visible Community were working to get a park downtown, some people were wondering if there was need or demand for another park,” said Craig Saddlemire, a member of the Visible Community. “Clearly, it’s going to be a well-used park.”

The grand opening drew as many as 60 kids, and most were on hand for a chance to win one of 11 used bicycles donated by the L/A Fund. Irving Isaacson, representing the charitable group, said both the bikes and the park are intended to brighten life downtown.

“Our objective is to make things a little bit better for people,” Isaacson said. “We can’t do big things, because we can’t afford to do big things. But we can do little things, like the bicycles.”