The
East Lansing Department of Parks, Recreation & Arts knows that when a community participates in creating something, they are more likely to make good use of it. That fact was proven in 1995 when East Lansing residents raised funds for and built a play structure in Patriarche Park. It was so well used, in fact, that it’s due for replacement.
Last week, the Rotary Club of East Lansing and honorary project chairperson, MSU Women’s Basketball Coach Suzy Merchant, announced plans for a project called “Playground in the Park Re-Imagined.”
“We had intentions about year ago to revamp the playground,” says Wendy Wilmers Longpre, Assistant Director of Parks, Recreation and Arts, “and we discovered the wood contains arsenic because of a material that was used to extend the life of wood. We decided it was in the best interest for the community to replace it.”
The new structure is expected to cost $400,000 to be raised by the community. The design process will include community meetings for input. The city is working with
Sinclair Recreation who will supply the play equipment, as well as tools and supervisors to direct a community install.
The current play structure will remain standing until the fall of 2012. Longpre explains that arsenic is not absorbed through the skin, and the structure is safe to play on as long as kids wash their hands between playing on the structure and eating. This spring a sealant will be applied to the wood to fully contain the carcinogen.
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