Work remains to be done on the new version of Winfield’s Island Park Playground but it should be ready for play by mid to late May, city officials say.
Crews have begun installing safety surfacing at the park. A black surfacing will eventually be covered by a colorful topcoat that is soft to land on but also wheelchair friendly.
The timely opening of the playground will rely on decent weather and no unforeseen problems.
The safety surfacing requires that the playground be constructed on a concrete foundation – which is one of the main construction differences from the first playground.
The original playground was burned to the ground last fall. A teen suspect is set to face trial for arson this summer in connection with the incident.
The new playground will feature a rear entrance and some other changes. Additional funding help to pay for an artificial climbing rock and an extra covered picnic area.
The city received just over $300,000 in insurance proceeds to reconstruct the playground.
You can get a look at progress on the playground below:
