Since Friday, this article has drawn eight comments. See them in “Read more.”
June 11, 2010
by Christine Yeres
At 1:19 p.m. on Thursday, April 29, while attempting to park behind town hall, an 81-year-old male inadvertently accelerated through the wood post fence behind town hall and into the playground, which is lower than the level of the parking lot. No children or adults were in the playground area at the time. There were no injuries to the driver. The playground has been closed since then and the town is taking steps to recover monetary damages from the driver.
The playground was constructed about 18 years ago, according to Bob Snyder, the head of New Castle Recreation and Parks Department, and with a life expectancy of around 20 years, it would soon be time to think about replacing or rebuilding it. Instead of rebuilding it in the same place, the town board wondered in a recent work session whether the town should construct a playground instead on the front lawn of town hall consistent with the Projects for Public Spaces report encouraging the use of that lawn as part of a more engaging streetscape.
Parameters of casual survey at Strawberry Festival
At last Saturday’s Strawberry Festival, NCNOW.org ask residents: “Should the town construct a playground for young children in front of town hall and abandon the old location behind?”
The festival attendees being posed this question were informed that there had been a recent accident with no injuries in the vicinity of the playground and that the playground would need replacing in a few years.
Verbatim community responses
1. It would look better than those horizontal scratchy junipers in front of town hall, but I do like that it’s tucked away now in the back. They’d have to have some serious fence protecting it if they placed one in front.
2. Yes, I like the idea that it would be closer to the library. I’d have to see how the parking fit, perhaps some special parking right nearby.
3. It’s not a good idea. I go back there for the shade and for easy, close parking with the stroller and kids.
4. I like it where it is now. Because not many people even know about it, you don’t get a lot of people who don’t live here going there. I didn’t know about it myself for a long time after I moved here.
5. It’s a terrible idea. They should leave well enough alone. The space in front of town hall would be big, hot and open. Yuck. The one behind town hall is really for preschoolers, shaded and small. I heard that a car went into it, but that was a freak accident.
6. They should put it behind the Community Center instead. You could get out of your car and it’s right there.
7. Too bad we can’t build a parking structure. Ninety percent of the cars sit at the train station taking up prime space all day. If they built a structure, we could give over the center space near the train station to commerce and have more shops in that shaded area in front of the station.
8. How about a kiddie water park in front of town hall instead? Just a very nice fountain, like in the City parks. And make it an ice skating rink in winter.
9. I like it. Streets are for people. The more reason people have to stay on the street, or be drawn to a next place, the better.
10. It’s shady in the back. I like the seclusion, the privacy. And there are no traffic fumes. Would they put shade trees in the front?
11. If they can’t put trees, maybe some flying fabric tent tops?
12. If a playground is going to show in front, it would have to be really, really handsome, not homemade looking. It would have to be a real designed piece.
13. I heard they needed the back space for a police department expansion. Is that why they’re considering it?
14. Well, it’s shady in back. I think it’s worth looking into, but most important, if they move it to the front it would still have to be for young children. Bell is for older kids. And it would have to be very well protected from traffic by serious fencing.
15. I heard there was an accident back there. I’m glad no one was hurt. That could happen anywhere. Is that what the town board is worried about? Another accident?
16. I like it better because it’s all hidden. We walk the town all the time. We live up 120 and use the sidewalks all the time.
17. I’d like to see a playground even closer to the library, like at the library. I suppose the library wants to keep the space for expansion, but it would be so convenient to have a playground right there.
18. I think there are safety issues. I’m not persuaded that it would be better in front. I know about the accident behind town hall, but that was a rare occurrence.
19. There are safety issues. Having little kids run around that confined space so close to two roads and the parking lot in front of town hall is nuts.
20. Two flagpoles limit the useable space and constitute a safety issue. They would have to put barriers around them so the little ones will not be able to crash into them.
21. What about the aesthetics of a playground set in that locale?
22. How about some nice outdoor sculpture?
23. Unless they totally reconfigure the front of town hall, that green area isn’t really that user friendly.
24. It would be good to have it out front, because you forget about it back there!
25. Is it necessary? Fix the bridge instead!
26. I can see the advantage of having it away from traffic, tucked back there behind town hall. But I would have found it sooner when we moved here if it had been visible from the library.
27. I think they should put a playground closer to the baseball rec field so little kids can play on it while bigger kids or parents are playing baseball or softball.
29. No one knows it’s there now, which is both good and bad.
30. It’s ugly! It should stay hidden. Would you put a playground on your front lawn?
31. Trees, a fountain and seating. That would be enough.
Copyright 2012 NewCastleNOW.org