The surface of the spiral slide in the middle of the Ryckman Park playground resembles a road whose repaving is long overdue. Cracks here. Patches there.
The slide is emblematic of a play area with equipment over 15 years old in a relentless, seaside Florida environment.
“We replaced some parts with wood to hold the slide together. It’s like putting lipstick on a pig,” said Town Manager Tim Day.
Town officials acknowledge the popular playground needs replacement, not painting over rust and sealing cracks. The municipality allocated $25,000 toward new equipment in the 2017-18 budget. But that falls well short of what could be at least $150,000 to replace. Day will launch a campaign to obtain donations from individuals and corporations in an effort to reach at least another $125,000.
It’s not just a matter of accommodating children. It’s a liability issue, Day said.
“The town staff has tried to maintain the playground to the best of their abilities,” said the summer edition of the Beach Comber, the town newsletter. “However the structure is in need of major repairs and should be replaced. Many of the areas that have rusted away were replaced with lumber because the replacement parts from the manufacturer are just not available. The combination of the usage and environmental factors living so close to the ocean has led to the decay of the structure.”
In a seashore environment, corrosion of equipment accelerates because of moisture, high humidity, UV radiation and salt air. “Equipment does not often last beyond 15 years,” said Kenneth S. Kutska, executive director of the International Playground Safety Institute, who works out of Bradenton.
Kutska said while the cost to repair often eclipses the cost to replace, almost half the replacement cost comes from installation unless the town has the skilled labor to take on the chore. Another cost saver is to have the community get together and install the equipment as long as the manufacturer can send along a professional to assist the project.
“You can do it in a weekend,” Kutska said.
As for fundraising, he said there are a number of options, including naming opportunities, such as engraved brick pavers. “You can net $50 a brick if they sell for $100.”
Another idea is for school art teachers to have kids do hand prints in clay which is glazed and built into a mosaic for a wall around the entrance to the playground.
Selling self-portraits created for scarves and ties is another option, as is selling T-shirts.
“We had a spaghetti dinner with a silent auction and raised $20,000 in one night,” Kutska said.