Park playground removed for safety issues
Safety issues were cited as the reason for the removal of the children’s playground that used to sit inside the grounds at county-owned Lynn Hall Park by Times Square.
Vicki Little, senior supervisor of Beach Parks & Shorelines for Lee County Parks & Recreation, stated the playground was removed “due to the rust and damage from the salt air” in an email correspondence.
“One of the reasons you don’t see many playgrounds on the beach is the life span of the equipment is greatly reduced in environments of this nature,” she stated. “A traditional standard type playground (as we had at Lynn Hall) usually has about a 10- to 15-year general life span, and we barely got five years out of the structure before we had to close three of the play elements for safety reasons.”
Little stated the cost to repair the elements of the playground unit was too high, and that County officials are looking at alternative structures to fit the need.
“To replace the old playground it would have cost anywhere between $75,000 to $125,000,” she wrote. “And, since the Lynn Hall (playground) did not last what we had anticipated, it was not on the replacement funding list!”
Little stated County officials are “currently working with two vendors on a new design.” It is hoped the full project will be finished in 2013.
“Depending upon the cost, we hope to start phasing in the structure this fiscal year and look for more funding to finish the project next year,” she wrote. “It will be something non-traditional and nothing with moving parts. It will most likely be some kind of structure that fits/blends into our area and one that children can climb and play on. Safe, imaginative and creative play elements!”
In the meantime, Little would like to remind Beach residents and visitors that they can check out the restored beachfront at the county park.
“We have a brand new giant sandbox they can use. It’s a wonderful “safe” playground for children of all ages to play in,” she stated. “Just bring bucket and shovel or buy one at one of our local businesses.”