'Playground equipment is extremely expensive for so many reasons' By Ray Spiteri Niagara Falls Review Updated 3 hours ago
Everyone likes a new public playground in their neighbourhood. What they may not like is the cost that comes with installing new swings, slides, climber bars and accessible surfacing.
"Playground equipment is extremely expensive for so many reasons," said Mayor Jim Diodati.
He said when installing new playgrounds, or repairing parts of playgrounds, municipalities have to meet strict safety standards.
"No. 1, it's all got to be (Canadian Standards Association) approved. No. 2, it's all got to be accessible. No. 3, there are not a lot of companies. There are only a handful of companies building them.
"And the other thing is that equipment has got to last. It's not like the stuff you put in your backyard. It's got to stand the test of time, the test of some abuse, and obviously, the (weather) elements."
Diodati said he's seen a number of price quotes around the city for playground equipment, which on first blush floored him.
The cost of playground equipment has been highlighted by the replacement work budgeted for 17-year-old Preakness St. park, which hosts an aging and tired playground with a history of vandalism and public safety problems.
Over the years, city officials have put up boards and yellow tape on some equipment to keep children safe from injury.
Staff was originally going to recommend council spend $90,000 to revitalize the park — $76,000 from its current budget and $14,000 from the 2012 budget. That would include $40,000 for playground equipment, $30,000 for a fibre play surface and $20,000 for basketball hoops and benches.
But this week, council told staff to work with residents to see if together they can secure an additional $47,000, which would bring the project cost to $137,000.
After consultation, staff say neighbourhood residents asked the city to consider upgrading the play surface to rubber or artificial turf from sand. They say that will make the park more accessible for visitors and help negate safety hazards.
Diodati said external funding could mean going to the federal and provincial governments for support, and soliciting private help through fundraising efforts.
If staff and residents are unable to secure the additional $47,000, council will have to decide whether to either proceed with the standard $90,000 playground installation, or fund the additional $47,000 in its 2012 budget.
Cynthia Roberts, manager of parks and cemetery services, said equipment was "a lot cheaper" when playgrounds at parks such as Preakness were originally built.
She said the city would like to have a blueprint for all parks, but that's not possible because each one has its own needs, depending on where the playground is and its age.
For example, Roberts said there were drainage issues at Crimson Neighbourhood Park, which in July received $169,000 worth of upgrades.
"Playground equipment is just one part of the cost of the total project," she said.
"There's underground servicing and the issue of surfacing. It's not a matter of just taking a play space out and plunking a new one in."
She said in previous years, the city would put in sand around its playgrounds — the least expensive of all surface options. But to be more accessible, it has moved towards wood chips, which increases the project cost "a little bit."
"If you want more expensive rubber, or artificial surface, it increases (the cost) substantially."
Roberts said the city is finalizing a 10-year playground improvement program that will identify 35 playgrounds that need work during the next 10 years.
"We're looking at, if it's approved by council, replacing three to four playgrounds per year over the next 10 years."
The city manages and maintains 93 parks, athletic fields and open spaces, including 55 playgrounds.
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