PRECM 07-08-1970 - Laserfiche WebLink

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5PECTAL PARK BOARD MEETING July 8, 1970 The meeting was called to order at 8:20 by Vice-Chairman Hagemeyer Board Members Presento Barnhill, Dahl, Hagemeyer, Smith and Council Representative Moen Absento Gunderman, Sherlock, snleissman Others Present: Donald Brauer and Charles Hefty of Brauer and Associates, New Brighton Park Planners, Robert M. Wicklund, Park and Recreation Director and Village residents Seventh Street Play Structure Mro Brauer and Mr. Hefty gave a report on the play structure in response to objections raised by residents at the July 1, 1970 Park Board meeting. The residents had complained that the piece was dangerous due to its height,lack of guardrails, and opening in the deck floors. Mr. Hefty stated that the purpose of the structure was to provide a challenge to children different from that faund in standard play equipment. No play equipment is ever completely safe unless it's completely uninteresting. The height of the structure is no more tha n that of many commercial pieces according to Mr. Hefty. The different deck levels provide a variety of access routes that will continue to stimulate children as opposed to the routine stairway found on most equipment. Railings around the slides were excluded intentionally as the planners felt they would create a feeling of false security in the children and would encourage children to climb over them rather than serve to contain the children. Mr. Brauer added that imaginative. large pieces are a national trend as equipment of this type has more potential for children than standard equipment. In designing structures such as this one, a conflict arises because what is comfortable for the parents is uninteresting to the children. Uninterested children will move to horseplay and then to vandalism. Equipment must be interesting enough to prevent this and that involves some element of risk. Residents whose homes adjoin the park on Pearl Avenue reiterated some of their previous complaints concerning the excessive height of the structure, lack of railings and generally inadequate safety precautions. Mr. Ross Metzger, spokesman for the group, stated that numerous accident had occurred during the first week the structure was under construction. He said that the residents felt that the piece was poorly designed and appeasement in the form of a few minor modifications was nat the answer but rather re-designing and re-constructing the structure was necessary.