$133.8K approved for new playground equipment
RUSSELLVILLE — City councilmembers approved $133,796.46 for a new playground at City Lake Park to replace equipment that parks and recreation Director Donnie Flanagan said had fallen into disrepair after more than 20 years of use.
Half of the funds will come from the city’s general fund and half from the capital improvement fund.
“City Lake Park is a very heavily used park,” Flanagan said. “Every day, unless it’s pouring down rain, there are people down there.”
He said the city considered repairing the existing playground before deciding to install new equipment.
Flanagan said parks and recreation employees removed portions of the existing playground equipment they considered dangerous while city officials weighed their options.
He said repairing the playground would have cost about half as much as installing a new one.
“I felt like we’d just be putting a bandaid on it to repair it,” Flanagan said Playground schematics provided by the city show a nautical-themed design featuring ship- and ocean-inspired play structures, interactive sensory panels, shaded seating areas and accessibilityfocused features.
“I think it’ll be a great improvement to City Lake Park,” Mayor David Grissom said.
“We’re putting up two shaded areas with picnic tables underneath for parents to sit when it’s hot,” Flanagan said.
Grissom said he asked additional questions about accessibility after meeting with the playground company.
“This whole setup is ADA compliant,” he said.
Flanagan described several adaptive play features included in the plans.
“It has one thing that’s kind of like a seesaw,” Flanagan said. “It has a section that pulls out so you can roll a wheelchair up into it. We also have a bigger swing where you can’t put the wheelchair in it, but you could help transfer the person into the swing and latch them in.”
Grissom said playground company officials explained the playground includes colors, textures and interactive features designed with sensory needs in mind to make it more comfortable for children with different needs.
Flanagan said the city plans additional security measures after repeated vandalism at the existing playground.
“We’re also going to put up some security cameras,” Flanagan said.
He said the city also plans to ask the Russellville Police Department to make additional rounds in the area.
Flanagan said older children, teenagers, and young adults had caused damage by climbing and standing on parts of the equipment.
He said the new playground surface will use engineered wood fiber instead of pea gravel. Grissom said the city was told wheelchairs should be able to move across the material.
Grissom and Flanagan said installation is expected toward the end of July, though weather and other factors could affect the timeline.
Flanagan said the city plans to delay removing the current playground equipment as long as possible to reduce downtime during the busy summer season.
“I don’t want the park to be without a playground any longer than it has to be,” Flanagan said. “I’m hoping no more than two weeks without a playground, weather permitting.”
