On Friday morning at Barnett Family Park Playground, children pushed each other on swings, splashed in the water area, and avoided an 18-inch metal post wrapped in yellow caution tape sticking up out of the rubber safety mat near the Peggy Brown Building.
At the same time, just up the street, city commissioners discussed a $303,400 contract to renovate and install new equipment for part of the park, possibly beginning in November.
Deputy Director of Parks & Recreation Pam Page told commissioners that the playground is one of the city’s most popular. But some of the equipment in the 20-year-old park needs to be replaced, as does the safety surface, which is a rubber surface with a little give.
“We have been very, very successful in extending the life of our playground equipment and the reason being is that we have now on staff three certified playground inspectors,” Page said. “They do a yeoman’s job in inspecting all of the playgrounds weekly … and because they’re so on top of the maintenance, we’ve really seen that the life of the playgrounds have been extended as a result of that.”
If approved on Monday, REP Services, Inc., based in Longwood, would build custom equipment designed to fit in the existing playground footprint. The total amount for the playground and surfacing materials, installation and removal of existing equipment and freight is $303,400. The contract would piggyback with a Clay County contract, providing a discount of $1,700.
“The swings have been replaced one time and we’re not replacing them this time because they’re in perfect working order,” Page said. “The spinners we have replaced once one time before and the great big climbing net. We replaced the net only.”
This time, the climbing net and pole, and the kids-in-motion spinner will be replaced. Four play elements will be added, including three spinners and a bouncer. The swings and musical equipment will remain.
Commissioner Sarah Roberts McCarley said the park was cutting edge in 2004 because it was in the first wave of parks in which all children, regardless of their ability, could play.
“This is such a highlight, I feel like, for the city of Lakeland and if we look at, you know, encouraging our young people to be outside a thousand hours, and that play is really learning,” McCarley said. “You guys do such a great job and I wanted to bring up the point that because of your maintenance, we don’t do this regularly. … It’s time. You are doing such a great job, keeping it up to date, but also including every child, which is huge.”
She reminisced about her children growing up in that park over the years.
“I took my then not quite 2-year-old to the opening of that park. She’s now a junior in college,” Roberts McCarley said. “I also had a 5-year-old birthday party at Peggy Brown (Building), but we enjoyed that. And he’s now 18.”
Lakeland’s playgrounds offer a variety of challenges
Page said a great deal of thought goes into playground design and which equipment to place in each location.
“It’s funny because you want your kids to play and have fun, and you really don’t want them to realize how hard they’re working on developing all of their muscles and everything. A lot goes into the selection of the equipment that we have, and we have different playgrounds that achieve different levels of physical development,” Page said. “One of our most difficult playgrounds is at Fletcher Park at Lake Bonny. That playground is designed for children to develop their cores.”
Commissioner Chad McLeod said he likes taking his children to different parks in the city so they can have different experiences. They are 10, 9 and 6 years old.
“I don’t think I’ve always appreciated that when we take our kids,” McLeod said. “We just know this one’s different than another one. But I know there’s a lot of thought and planning into making each park a unique experience. And I agree, I think the swings are — I was on one with one of the kids — I think they are in good shape.”
Mayor Bill Mutz asked if the height of the climbing net will remain the same and was assured that it would, but it will be wider.
“I like the height being the same because I race my grandkids to the top,” said the mayor, who has 34 grandchildren. “I like the fact that there’s a little risk in what they do to on these things, that we don’t take a very super safe path always on everything and we allow people to be able to stretch. It’s good and so this is wonderful.”
The commission will vote on the contract at its meeting Monday morning. If approved, REP Services will begin building the equipment, which should be installed in November. The water park and Sunflower Preschool Playground will remain open during construction.
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