Rebuilding the core of Winfield’s Island Park Playground is a job likely to be undertaken by a professional construction company rather than volunteer laborers participating in a community build, city officials said this week.
Volunteers still would be needed for a series of enhancements funded by private donations made since the original playground burned to the ground in the fall, city manager Warren Porter said.
But under a plan being discussed by local leaders and the city’s insurance company, the main part of the playground would be built as similarly to the original as possible utilizing the services of a general contractor. Both Porter and city parks director Mark Olney stressed that a final settlement with the insurance provider has yet to be reached.
Still, each acknowledged, in separate interviews, that a return to the community-build model used in 2004 was looking less and less likely. That’s mostly because the city’s insurance policy covers full replacement cost, which gives the insurance company considerable say in how the process goes forward.
"The steering committee understands that," Olney said. "They know this is how the insurance company wants to go about it."
Porter said the city could, in theory, take an insurance payment only for the cost of materials and then assemble volunteer crews. That, however, would mean saying no to a six-figure payment to fund hiring the contractor.
The insurance company will not write a check to fund volunteer labor.
"Just taking the money for materials doesn’t seem to make sense financially," Porter said. "But we know the priceless part of the first playground was the community building and the volunteer effort. I’m torn. I think we’re all torn."
A construction company also would have all liability on its shoulders until the construction project was completed, which is a plus, he said.
Even if there is no need for a large-scale community build, there should still be plenty of volunteer opportunities, city officials said. The rebuild effort already has garnered additional donations and should soon receive money being donated by the annual Isle of Lights display.
Porter expects there to be a minimum of $25,000 available to enhance the park. That money, coupled with volunteer labor should make several enhancements possible.
"So we’re still going to need volunteers," he said.
The rebuild will also provide a chance to improve a few design issues. Olney said the steering committee was considering the use of a newly developed foam safety surfacing that would replace the shredded tire material that was used last time.
"It’s still very soft but it’s much easier for wheelchairs to move on," he said.
Three suspects in the fire investigation were taken into custody shortly after the fire in October. Two have reached plea agreements and have been sentenced to probation.
