by Marlene Berlin
The Forest Hills playground practically looks ready for play. And it is getting closer.
The installation of the kids’ play equipment is complete and waiting for inspection, according to the latest update on construction (PDF) from the Department of Parks and Recreation. The special safety surface has been installed. The basketball half court between Brandywine Street and the tennis court is also done.
All that new equipment looks very enticing even to a grown-up, but we will get our own play equipment, and soon. Adult fitness equipment has been delivered and is set to be installed next week. New plumbing and lighting fixtures also go in next week. Other finishing touches to be added over the next couple of weeks include landscaping, picnic tables and benches.
And even though the playground looks substantially finished, Stacie West of DPR asks for a little more patience from those of us itching to give it a try.
“It is not yet complete until the site has been cleaned up and the construction fence has been removed,” says West. “We want to ensure everyone’s safety, and so remind all that the site is not open and that unauthorized visitors are not permitted. Additionally, this ensures that recently completed work such as the freshly installed safety surface is not damaged by footprints before it is ready.”
The final touches could keep the playground from opening by the promised September 30th completion date. DPR now says the playground will be substantially complete by then, but the punch work won’t be completed until after the 30th.
Still, DPR and the Department of General Services are working toward this goal: To open the playground in plenty of time for the annual Halloween party, which will be held this year on Sunday, October 26th.
George Hofmann says
It is a pity that the main path in the new park should be ugly blacktop, when so much attention to detail seems to have been the norm elsewhere. Could have been a graceful path in a more natural material.