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Paul “Andy” Stewart
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Tab 11
Ledger, The (Lakeland, FL)
January 30, 2008
A'Dale Plans to Delight Kids With Playground Fun Gear
Agency approves spending more than $300,000 on play equipment. AUBURNDALE The next
step in the redevelopment of the downtown park will be child's play. The Community
Redevelopment Agency approved earlier this week new playground equipment that children of
all ages can use, including those with disabilities. The $329,863 project will include the
playground equipment, artificial turf and a 2-foot-tall decorative brick wall as a safety feature.
Assistant City Manager Andy Stewart said improving the playground equipment is just another
piece of the puzzle to provide the best recreation at the downtown park. "It's the biggest drawing
card we have to our downtown," he said.
The playground area will be moved closer to the City Hall Plaza parking lot, where the canopy is
located, to make parking more convenient.
Joe Miller, who contracts with municipalities to provide playground equipment, said the
equipment, which includes slides and rock-climbing facilities, encourages teamwork and will
help children lead active lifestyles.
During his presentation Monday night, Miller, of Miracle Recreation, showed a Powerpoint
presentation that features similar playground equipment at Nye Jordan Park in Bartow.
City officials called the playground equipment state-of-the-art. CRA members said they are
happy to see improvements made to the playground equipment. "It's worn out," City
Commissioner Richard Hamann said about the current playground equipment.
CRA Chairwoman Cindy Price said the plans for the park's redevelopment are coming together
nicely. "I like to offer a congratulations to those who worked on the City Hall Plaza," she said.
The CRA set aside $655,000 in its 2007-08 budget for the park redevelopment plans, which
covers the construction of City Hall Plaza, updating the playground equipment, and adding
sidewalks, lighting and landscaping.
The rest of the redevelopment plans call for improvements to East Park Street that would allow
for the creation of an expanded parking area and a spacious special events area.
In December 2007, the CRA completed the construction of City Hall Plaza, which eliminated the
horseshoe shaped parking beside the existing playground area. That project cost $130,000, which
included streetscaping, sidewalk networks, landscaping and repaving of the parking lot and East
Park Street.
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