Okay, I normally don’t get too involved in government issues. I much prefer to sit back, observe the situation, form my opinions and then take my viewpoint to the appropriate forum (generally the election polls). However, I’m also guilty of throwing in my two cents once in a while. So here ya go – spend it as you please.

Bravo to Addison Township’s parks and rec committee for creating a playground and recreation proposal that is not only cost effective, but all encompassing.
At the last township board special meeting, trustees approved $15,000 for new playground equipment, surfacing material and building assistance. For this money, the residents are getting six different pieces of playset equipment (two monkey bars, two slides and two swing sets, yes, swing sets!) to entertain children ages 2 to 12. And if that wasn’t enough, the plan is to create a play space for the older children and a separate one for the younger.
Oh, and did I mention that $15,000 is the maximum price? The actual equipment will cost less than $10,000. The board decided to leave the surfacing and construction items open at $5,000 so that committee members could find the most efficient and cost effective, yet safe, methods available. For example, park and rec committee member Joe Schnur has suggested using sand as a safety surface instead of woodchips. Sounds like someone who’s trying to get the most bang for his buck.
Also, the park and rec committee decided to go a step further while looking at playground equipment. In a park projection plan, members have designed a walking path around the perimeter, with benches spaced near the playground equipment, and an 80×80 basketball court. Schnur said the committee’s goal was to provide something for everyone – a place to walk for seniors, especially those right there visiting the senior center, and a place to hang out and shoot some hoops for the teenagers. I think they accomplished their goal.
The committee has yet to research the cost or time frame for these items, but I like the overall look of this proposal. It may take time, but with the determination of committee members, I’m sure they’ll once again find the most cost effective and appropriate methods. Already they have put some thought towards utilizing a small space for the best benefits of the community. Take a bow!
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While I’m on the subject of parks – I’ve been thinking a lot about the $28,895 recently approved by the Oxford Village Council for Phase I of a new playscape at Scripter Park.
Now, before anyone begins to heat up their tar and pick up their feathers, I AM NOT AGAINST a new playground in the park. In fact, I think some new equipment would be wonderful. I’ve simply been thinking about the type of equipment the village is going to be installing and the cost of the project.
Not long ago, while my valiant editor was away on vacation and I was left tending the home front, I attended an Oxford Village parks and rec committee meeting where several plans were presented for the new playscape. All of them resembled in some way, shape, form, style that of several other playscapes already in the area and cost around $100,000. Also during the meeting, the playscape designer presented some advertisements for splash pads.
Splash pads! What by golly is a splash pad?
All of a sudden, a whole new world of crazy, wet fun was opened before me. Splash pads have jets of water shooting from everything imaginable – out of the ground, from cannons, from toy-like statues, even from rainbow-style arches and bridges. Some of the water streams are controllable by those playing in the area, others are automatic. Children of all ages, shapes and sizes can play in one area.
I was amazed – even more so when I heard the committee ooohing and aaahing over the splash pad – and then deciding to go ahead and recommend the purchase of Phase I for a playscape that is designed to cost $104,673 when completed. The committee discussed different ways of raising funds for later phases of the construction, and only briefly looked at adding the splash pad in the future.
So, here we are. Another playset like so many others going forward. Personally, I would have preferred just the splash pad. It’s a unique idea that would provide area children with an original play option, not to mention give Oxford Village a nice selling point for its main recreation park. As for the logistics, there is plenty of water available (the park’s by a lake), there are connections for the infrastructure (the restrooms are already there), there are plenty of local tradesmen and a community build is possible (there is already a community doing one).
However, hindsight is 20/20 and the playscape equipment has already been approved, but that doesn’t mean future plans can’t change.
This is what I would like the parks and rec committee to consider when building Phase I and moving into Phase II of the playground equipment: scale back to a much smaller playscape and plunge future funds into a larger splash pad.
My soon-to-be 2-year-old son and 27, soon-to-be 4-year-old, husband both love the splash pad at Metro Beach – and I bet all the area youth constantly clamoring for something new to do would love one here.