VERO BEACH — A non-profit organization has raised more than $250,000 to purchase new playground equipment and shade canopies this summer, and local residents can donate a brick to help fund the project.
The project is a public-private partnership, with the City of Vero Beach working with nonprofit GoPlayVero to make the improvements happen at the beachfront Humiston Park on Ocean Drive. On Tuesday the City Council agreed to enter into a joint participation agreement that’s required before any work can be done.
Kelly Della Porta told the Vero Beach City Council on Tuesday that GoPlayVero is a fund of the Indian River Community Foundation which allows local residents and businesses to make a tax-deductible donation to improve government-owned recreational facilities.
“This is an effort to enhance the playground to make it Americans with Disabilities Act compliant and handicapped accessible,” Della Porta said.
With the new playground elements, the play area will offer equipment for a greater range of ages and abilities, from age 2 to 12. Some of the components will be in addition to what’s there, and other components will replace equipment corroded or rusted by the salt air and sun, as Humiston Park is just yards from the Atlantic Ocean.
“The elements are tough on any equipment that’s there and the equipment has started to fail,” she said.
The addition will double the number of swings from four to eight, Della Porta said, as there is frequently a wait to use the swings. The new shade canopy will cover the existing and new swings.
City Manager Jim O’Connor said, “The City of Vero Beach is a participant, we will be putting in some sidewalks.”
O’Connor said the city would be spending $40,000 in interest from a trust fund that was set up many years ago for recreation.
Della Porta said the equipment takes about six weeks to ship, that the shades take about eight weeks and that installation will take three to four weeks.
Brick pathways are set to be constructed within the turtle-shaped playground. Anyone who wants to make a donation to sponsor a brick can go to the GoPlayVero website, www.goplayvero.com.
