Bayfront Park playground reopens

The playground at Bayfront Park has reopened to the public for the first time following a March closure for repairs, the city announced today.

The extended closure, which the city said was for public safety reasons, can be attributed in part to the age of the equipment at the playground. Dan Peck, the city’s public works reliability maintenance planner, said the playground manufacturer had to come in to evaluate whether parts were still available to make the necessary repairs.

Some of those parts, though available, had to be specially ordered and manufactured, while other equipment had to be replaced altogether. That work, compounded with weather delays and the city’s purchasing procedures and regulations, led to a protracted construction process.

“I know it seems like a long time for repairs, but you’ve got to dot all your ‘I’s and cross your ‘T’s,” Peck said.

Peck said the repairs, which cost roughly $23,000, were made with the expectation that the existing 15-year-old playground structure could last for another three to four years. At that point, Peck said, staff expects to replace the entirety of the Bayfront Park playground.

Contact David Conway at [email protected].