LAS CRUCES – Before the demolition and replacement, the city will hold a ceremony next week in Unidad Park to celebrate the wooden playground built by the community.
“The playground has become an icon over the years, with generations of families enjoying the park’s tranquility and playing with its special features,” said Sonya Delgado, director of Las Cruces Parks and Leisure.
The mostly wooden playground was built in 2001 with donations from the community and dozens of volunteers. The city said the “harsh south-west climate” has caused the structure’s surfaces to deteriorate over the past two decades “to the point where playground safety is of fundamental importance”. Issue.”
The city said its staff had previously tried to protect and cover high-traffic areas but full replacements were due. A project is currently underway to refurbish the playground with safer and more durable materials and add a working splash guard.
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The city will host a “Honor our past, celebrate our future” ceremony in Unidad Park on December 8th at 10:30 am. The event is scheduled to take place in the park at 1500 E. Hadley Ave.
The ceremony will be attended by speakers from the city and volunteers who helped build it in 2001. Students from the Jardín de los Niños will support the event. The city announced that representatives of the architecture office, construction companies and program management should be available, as well as renderings of the new playground, which was designed in a public submission process.
The redevelopment of the park and playground is funded by the city’s general bond issue and was one of the many park improvements that Las Cruces voters approved during the 2018 GO bond election. The project budget is $ 1.4 million.
Last month, Las Cruces City Council awarded Highland Enterprises Inc. a $ 925,000 construction contract for the Unidad Playground Project. According to the city, preparations for the site will begin this month, with the project expected to be completed by summer 2022.
Some elements are preserved to honor the old playground, such as the wall with tiles with children’s hands and the wooden slats with names. The city said other functions are also being considered.
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“This project is bittersweet,” said Delgado. “Although it is a real collaborative effort by Las Crucens coming together to build something special for children, it now needs to be replaced. But it also means much safer structures for children – and adults – and something that will last forever. “
Participants can park north of Hadley Avenue at the park entrance parallel to North Hermosa Street, or additionally park around the park area for the ceremony. Social distancing and face masks are observed. For information, people can call the Las Cruces Community Engagement Office at 575-541-2192 or 575-541-4557, or email [email protected].
Michael McDevitt is the city and county government reporter for Sun News. He can be reached at 575-202-3205, [email protected] or @MikeMcDTweets on Twitter.
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