The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Garfield Park to get new playground
Project among several recent upgrades
Mentor’s most popular park is getting another update.
City Council recently approved awarding a bid to build new playground equipment at Garfield Park, 7967 Mentor Ave.
Three bids were received, ranging from about $50,000 to more than $61,000.
Snider Recreation Inc. of North Royalton was determined to have the best unit and most playable features, including the wood fiber surfacing, borders, ramp and installation.
“It really is a nice big jungle gym,” Parks & Recreation Director Kenn Kaminski said.
It will be located in the same spot where the existing, 27-year-old playground equipment currently sits.
“Garfield Park is the busiest park that we have and we are adding to the experience for the kids that use the playgrounds,” said Kaminski, adding that it has nothing to do with safety concerns.
“It was just old and outdated
equipment that was used for a long time.”
The project is planned for spring.
It is the latest in a string of improvements to the park. Others include adding fencing to the ballfields, resurfacing the parking lots, improving the parking, repairing the lights for the tennis courts and baseball fields, replacing the tennis and basketball court surfaces, installing new basketball hoops, upgrading the interior of the building and replacing the filtration
system at the pool, Kaminski said.
This is all in addition to the dredging of the pond last year. About 35,000 tons of sediment was dredged to provide a water depth of about 5 feet.
The sediment buildup had decreased the depth to 1 or 2 feet.
“The pond is working well and thriving,” Kaminski said.
“The lack of sediment has helped with a much healthier pond. The wildlife are much more abundant.”