Sinking rubber puts LaSalle playground out of commission
Less than a month after its grand opening, LaSalle’s accessible playground has been closed indefinitely due to uneven settling of its rubber surface.
“It appears the settling is causing the rubber surface to kind of fold down in some locations — to sort of sink,” said CAO Kevin Miller. “We’ve closed it until we can get those areas addressed.”
The popular new playground, adjacent to the town’s new splash pad at the Vollmer Complex on Laurier Drive, was constructed by Openspace Solutions, a Kitchener/ Waterloo-based company.
The playground, splash pad and sun-shade-covered picnic area took more than two years of planning and $750,000 to construct. It opened to the public on Canada Day.
But soon after, depressions began forming on the playground’s soft rubberized surface. The sinking is most noticeable in the areas near the play structures.
Miller said concrete foundation posts were placed in the ground under the equipment and the settling seems to be “in and around where some of the structures are placed.”
“The rubber surface is applied on a base,” he said. “It would appear the base wasn’t maybe compacted properly in some locations. The base is sinking, which is causing the rubber surface in some locations to sink.”
Fencing has been placed around the area to restrict access.
LaSalle resident Orlando Paoletti sat in the shade watching his nine-year-old son Colton enjoy the splash pad on a very hot Thursday afternoon. Paoletti said they visit the park quite often and he’s noticed the playground has been closed for more than a week.
“It’s a brand new playground. I understand that they’ve got to do some upgrading but for the time it’s taking it (makes me) question why,” he said.
“It’s disappointing because the whole point is to bring children here for relaxation.”
Miller said the town is waiting to hear from the contractor, who is responsible for any needed repairs, as to what needs to be done to fix the playground’s surface.
“Obviously, we’re not happy that we had to close shortly after opening, but we also need to be sure that they playground is safe for everyone.”
There is no timeline yet for the area to reopen. Miller said the town will post updates on its website at www.lasalle.ca.
“We know the public’s anxious,” he said. “No one wants to see a playground open and then close (a couple of weeks later).”
The splash pad is open daily from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., until Sept. 4. There is no admission charge.