Chesterton Tribune

 

 

Spring to bring new Friendship Park children's play structure

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By PAULENE POPARAD

The remaining children’s play area known as Dunes Friendship Land in Chesterton Park is coming down to be replaced with a safer, handicapped-accessible play structure next spring.

At their meeting Tuesday, Chesterton Park Board members praised the final layout submitted by park director Bruce Mathias, who said the components for the 100-foot by 100-foot Little Tikes commercial playground are purchased and in storage.

Mathias said the donated name pickets and handprint tiles sold to raise money for the current wooden structures built years ago by community volunteers should be removed soon by their owners before the play area is disassembled over the next two months.

If not removed prior to demolition, Mathias said the remaining pickets/tiles won’t be saved.

Park Board member John Kroft said the new Friendship Park layout --- including swings, a look-out tower and bridge, slide, climbing wall and curving oval climbing structure --- is sized for little kids and won’t appeal to older children.

Mathias noted that the surface under the play areas will be a specially installed astroturf material with bounceability suitable to cushion falls yet firm enough to allow wheelchairs to move over it.

A portion of the wooden Dunes Friendship Land play structures to the west for older children previously was removed. Board members asked Mathias if something will be built to replace that, too. He said not at this time. “ We want to get the little kids taken care of there and then move on (with improvements) to the Waskom and Kipper parks.”

Also Tuesday, Mathias said the Christmas decorations and Santa House at Thomas Park were in place for the annual tree lighting and downtown Christmas parade Saturday, which he noted drew a large crowd because of the warmer temperatures.

Commented Kroft, “I really love the Thomas Park decorations.” He invited the public to take their time to look at them, especially the green fountain. “Someone really got creative this year,” Kroft commented.

Mathias said park employee Mike Billings drew up the concept for the decorations, and board president Vince Emanuel helped prepare them.

During his monthly report Mathias said this fall, “We’ve collected more leaves than in all the years I could remember.”

 

Posted 12/3/2014

 

 

 

 
 
 

 

 

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