Sumac Park Playground Reopens

On a bright, temperate Thursday afternoon, local children swung from swings of all shades of blue and spooked their parents out of newly constructed nooks. In front of the revamped jungle gym, a ribbon was waiting to be cut by Mayor William D. Koehler, signifying the grand reopening of Sumac Park.

The 15-year old play area, whose , had been noted as due for improvements by Parks and Recreation. When Quimby funds, which is a pool of developer fees to be used for the preservation of public space, were approved for use by the City Council in April of this year, the project was scheduled.

"I think the structure speaks for itself, said Koehler, before cutting the ribbon. "[Staff] could not have done a better job. They hit it out of the park."

Utah-based Great Western Park and Playground was the second-highest bid out of the eight returned, at $139, 648. The contract was awarded with a projected finish date of June 30. True to schedule, the equipment was ready on July 1.  Three benches in shipment will complete the project, which adhered to the original bid amount.

The old equipment, first constructed in 1995, is in the process of being refinished for an August installation at a temporary residence for Haitian children who lost their homes in the earthquake. The donation is through Kids Around the World, a non-profit organization that refurbishes and then ships play equipment to children in need, mostly abroad.  

"In the last few years, there's been a lot of innovation [in our industry]. Instead of just several layers of platforms, there are games and tools and instruments built in and made to be more challenging," said Tyler Kyriopoulos of GameTime, the company that manufactured the park's state-of-the-art equipment. "When you can combine a traditional kind of playground as well as more challenging upper body equipment, you can really create an amalgamation that is unparalleled as far as play value."

The Dennis family visits often, and is happy to see the changes. Six-year old Wyatt is working on his speed down the slide and when asked about the play structure, gives the bongo drums high marks as well as "The rocks, I can climb rocks now."

Wyatt is on one of two play structures, each geared toward a separate age group.  In forums conducted by the city's staff, Recreation Manager Meredith Petit and her staff learned that park patrons wanted separate play space for kids ages 2-5 and five and over. Wish granted.

Other unique features are literally out of sight: the ground under the play structures is layered with engineered wood fiber, which can help to absorb a fall.  Under the sandbox, which was another wishlist item when feedback was obtained, are dinosaur fossils. When kids dig deep enough, they can find one, large, contiguous fossil, which emulates a prehistoric treasure find.

Recreation Manager Meredith Petit also noted that the addition of shade canopies over the equipment was an important improvement, as was disabled access. 

"Sumac Park is the first park in the area that we've had shade canopies on, and that's based on people these days [being] really concerned about sun exposure," Petit said. "Also with the park, we planned for all ages and abilities. We have two separate structures for different ages. Everything is ADA compliant... It's all safe and secure."

Tina Johnson is glad to see the shade added, and the multi-level construction which increases visibility. "There are good vantage points all around the play structure," she said. Johnson has four kids and visits often, and brought daugthers Anna, 7, and Jenna, 2, to the opening celebration.

Jose Santos noted that there is something for everyone. The father of 8-year old Emil and 5-year old Isabella said, "I am happy to see the diversity of the playspace, that there's something for older and younger kids."