Posted on 01/30/2004 1:10:50 PM PST by BenLurkin
A bevy of smiling, overjoyed preschoolers welcomed a new playground at Jane Reynolds Park Thursday, oblivious to the history of the ground beneath their feet. The surface of the playground, at the corner of Oldfield Street and Elm Avenue, is made up of approximately 1,275 recycled waste tires - about 24 cubic yards of tires - on top of an asphalt base.
The rubberized surface creates a foamy, spongy feel that is soft and bouncy to the touch. The surface also meets Americans with Disabilities Act standards, providing a smooth surface for wheelchairs to roll on, said Bob Greene, assistant parks, recreation and arts director.
The black and tan speckled coating also will help prevent the surface from getting too hot during the summer.
A $25,000 grant from the California Integrated Waste Management Board helped pay for the surfacing. Altogether, the new playground cost the city about $68,100.
The city of Lancaster collects thousands of tires and other trash and debris each year during Lookin' Good Lancaster, an annual event planned and organized by city officials to beautify blemished spots in the community and promote volunteer service.
Last year the city collected more than 2,000 used tires during the one-day event.
"A year ago we collected thousands of tires out of the desert, and, you know, those darn things just keep coming back," Mayor Frank Roberts joked as he cut the ribbon on the new playground.
"What a great, great park this is," Roberts said, adding that it is his own neighborhood park.
But the real judges are the children who will play in the area each day. The preschoolers who attend school at Jane Reynolds Park had to watch with anticipation from their play room while the playground area was under construction.
"Oh, we love it, we've been waiting for it," said Laura Saavedra, as her 3-year-old son Markus played on the new red, green and tan equipment.
"I love it, it's so safe," Saavedra added, as she watched Markus play.
Lynnette Bass, who has been teaching preschool at Jane Reynolds Park for the past 14 years, also was delighted with the new playground.
"We've been keeping the blinds open and they've been watching the construction workers do their thing," Bass said.
"This is very, very nice," she said, "The softer textures and the softer lines, it's more inviting.
The new playground is part of an overall $737,100 makeover for the park, which includes tree trimming, exterior improvements to the community center and the new Myrtie Webber Pool Building.
"I love it," said parent Tanya Scarborough, who kept busy watching her 1½-year old daughter Maya.
Scarborough's son, Jadon, 3, a student at the preschool, played excitedly on the new equipment.
"They've been waiting to get on this playground," she said.
Tetanus shots...
And I STILL hate needles.
Sounds more like "daycare babysitting" than "pre-school".
More like 45~50 years ago for some of us. (((sigh)))
Just the same, I think it's good to put in a little extra effort to spare the youngest tykes from obvious hazzards.
They'll encounter enough bumps, bruises, cuts and scrapes as they grow older anyway.
No sense damaging 'em any sooner if it can be reasonably avoided.
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