The wheels are in motion to replace the Arnold City Park playground.
During an Oct 12 work session, City Council members indicated they wanted to prioritize the installation of a new playground in the park.
Arnold Parks and Recreation Director Dave Crutchley is scheduled to present options for a new playground at the Nov. 9 City Council work session set for 7 p.m. at City Hall, 2101 Jeffco Blvd.
“It makes me happy that we are able to start the process to get this project moving,” Crutchley said.
Arnold is projected to end the current fiscal year, which started on Sept. 1 and ends Aug. 31, 2024, with a $1,255,919 surplus because voters approved a 1-cent sales tax increase to help fund the Arnold Police Department.
City Administrator Bryan Richison previously recommended holding off on starting any capital improvement projects until the following budget year.
Those plans changed, though, when the Arnold City Park playground had to be torn down because sections of the steel structure had rotted, causing safety concerns. The playground was closed on Sept. 18.
Crutchley said the Parks and Recreation Department received numerous phone calls and emails about the playground removal.
He said communications with residents showed the need to replace the playground in the park on Bradley Beach Road near the Meramec River.
“When I left the (Oct. 12) meeting, there were two or three individuals who told me they use that playground every day,” he said. “One of the residents said his kid has some sensory difficulties, so they go there to get some of his energy out. He said the playground being closed is crushing, and he said when he left to come to the meeting, his child said, ‘Please beg them to put a playground back in Arnold Park.’ That is how important it is.”
Ward 1 Councilman EJ Fleischmann, whose ward is home to the park, said several residents asked him about the playground.
“At first, people were angry,” he said. “Once we had a conversation about (the council) discussing putting in a new playground, they understood what was happening. I am happy we (council members) saw this as a priority.”
Richison said residents had not directly contacted him to say they were upset the playground was gone, but he was aware that numerous comments were made about it on the Leader Facebook page in September when a story about the playground was posted online.
“I am kind of glad people care that much to express their concern or unhappiness,” he said. “It shows they use the park, which is a good thing. The circumstance with it breaking unexpectedly so we are not prepared to do something immediately to replace it is not great, but it is clearly important to people.”
Plans
Crutchley said he plans to present at least four options for a new playground.
He said the main goal is to have a playground accessible for children of all abilities between the ages of 6 months old through 13 years old.
“I want everyone to be able to enjoy and use it,” Crutchley said.
Crutchley said the biggest obstacle to building a new playground is the flooding issues in Arnold City Park. He said because the park is in a flood plan, the city is limited to the surface the playground is installed on, and the current playground is lower than the ground around it and would need to be raised to be ADA accessible.
Crutchley said he was beginning to research options on Oct. 13, and he could not provide a possible estimated cost. He said the city may pay up to $300,000 because of the cost of potential landscaping, playground equipment and labor to install the structure.
“I am open to anything that will work in our park. I don’t think the equipment will be an issue,” he said. “The issue will be how the equipment works with how the ground lays and the ability to make it accessible.”
Richison said he was hesitant about installing a new playground in the park because of flooding issues there. However, he said because of modern materials, he believes a new playground may better withstand flood waters.
“I am hoping there is an option that will hold up,” he said. “At some point, it will be underwater. We want to make sure whatever we get can deal with that. I am interested to see what (Crutchley) can come up with as far as options.”
Crutchley said the previous playground was installed 25 years ago.
If council members approve a plan in November for a new playground, he does not believe construction could begin until January or February.
“There are no guarantees, but the city’s goal is to have something put in there by the spring or early summer,” Crutchley said.