On Tuesday, July 16, Penny Renfroe, Parks and Recreation Department (PARD) Director, told the City Council the playground at Godwin Park is currently being dismantled in preparation of a much-needed overhaul.
The playground has been in need of repair for a long time. PARD is moving forward with the process of removing damaged areas to prepare for the eventual installation of a completely new playground.
The replacement has not yet been selected.
Renfroe said there are several things that they want to be mindful of when choosing a replacement playground.
“I think it needs to serve the same number of people that the current playground serves. I would like to see the same opportunity for different populations,” Renfroe said. She said they want to continue to serve all different age groups across the board.
The Godwin Park playground was constructed in 2002, an effort made possible through organization, fundraising and over 4,000 hours worked by support staff and 781 volunteers on the construction site alone. (This doesn’t include the hours of work by support staff on the building phase, childcare and food service.)
When the playground was first constructed, the expected lifespan of the structure was 20-25 years.
In 2011, a portion of the playground caught fire. During the investigation and inspection process, the structure was found to be plagued by a breakdown of wood at the ground level.
The Godwin Park playground is a favorite landmark in town. Renfroe said the fact that it is multi-structural and interconnected makes it very attractive to the community.
“I would like to see us continue on that same path on the choice of a new playground,” Renfroe said.
While damaged areas are currently being removed, the entire structure won’t be torn down until a new playground has been approved.