Charles City’s accessible park making progress

By Bob Steenson, bsteenson@charlescitypress.com

The new accessible playground at Sportsmen’s park is nearly complete and could be available for play in the next couple of weeks.

A crew from PlayBuilders of Leon was at the park this week, assembling the play pieces, doing earthwork and getting things ready for another crew to pour the rubber surface on part of the park that will be wheelchair and other mobility issues accessible, and then spread the soft mulch that will cover the rest of the playground.

Tyler Mitchell, director of the city Department of Parks and Recreation, said the playground pieces should be installed this week, then it’s just a question of the weather when the rubber surface is poured.

“They need a certain temp for a certain amount of days in a row for them to do the rubber surfacing,” he said. “Then once they are able to do that, then they’ll come back and put the mulch, touch up and stuff like that. We’re hoping within the next month it’s all said and done. Then we’ll do the grand opening at some point after that.”

The playground had originally been planned to be installed last year, but a mix-up with the company doing the ground preparation resulted in a too low surface and concerns about drainage in the flood-prone park.

More dirt was brought back in this year and PlayBuilders spread it out and continued the installation.

“It’s been not a fun time, but we’re going to get it done for you now,” said Dennis Yoder, who with his brother, Henry, runs PlayBuilders.

They do the groundwork, cement in the upright support poles and assemble the play pieces. On Wednesday they were finishing up compacting the crushed rock base for the rubber surface.

Another company will come in and pour the rubber surface and then add the mulch.

In addition to the play structure in the center of the playground, it will include accessible swings, a ground-level merry-go-round spinner and parallel zip lines.

We’re hoping within the next month it’s all said and done,” said Parks & Rec Director Mitchell. “Then we’ll do the grand opening at some point after that.”

In addition to the play structure, the  Charles City Rotary Club is donating a concrete pad with a large canopy, handicapped-accessible picnic tables and benches that will probably be built west of the playground, he said.

The playground is being named in memory of Donna White, whose son, Steve, made a $50,000 donation toward the park in her honor. He plans to travel from his home in Florida to attend the dedication.

Total cost of the playground is about $263,000.

As part of the project, sidewalk work is being done around the area, to fix up sidewalk areas that are in poor shape and to ensure handicapped-accessible entry to the playground.

In addition, the Charles City Rotary Club is donating a concrete pad with a large canopy, handicapped-accessible picnic tables and benches that will probably be installed west of the playground, Mitchell said.

It won’t be as big as another shelter house, but will provide a spot where people can sit and watch their kids play, he said.