Tomorrow night, June 7, St. James Episcopal Church (4620 California) will host a public meeting about the preliminary draft design for the renovation of the playground in Mt. Lake Park.
The is the second public meeting about the design, hosted by the Friends of Mountain Lake Park Playground (FMLPP). All ages are welcome to attend and give their input into the redesign of the playground.
The meeting runs from 6:30pm until 8:30pm. If you’re unable to make it, you can also provide your input via an online survey. FMLPP also has a Facebook page.
Sarah B.
This playground was just renovated 10 – 12 years ago. Many of the Richmond District playgrounds have been renoved in recent years instead of the 30 to 40 years (or more) years since their prior renovation. Unfortunately, they’re all getting to look much the same now. The current Mountain Lake Playground seems perfectly satisfactory. A playground should have a classic “timeless” element to it. Many of the recent Richmond District playground renovations, while they seem to make the playgrounds initially look more contemporary may make them more dated in appearence in the long run. The existing Mountain Lake Playground has that classic sense to it. No glitz, no flashy colors, just solid play structures. What more do the kids really need?
Agreed Richmond Resident. I think this park is fine – there are others in the city that could use a sprucing up first. But, I am also of the school of thought that today’s play structures are too safe and do not fully encourage exploratory play, but that is another post for another thread. All in all, I guess I am happy to see my tax dollars going to something worthwhile versus the usual crap.
nancydrew99 brings up a great point about safety. I agree that much in today’s world for kids is too safe (Do I hear new parents of little ones gasping in the backround?). Older playgrounds that have the old steel pipe type jungle gyms and such are truly treasures.
What better playground can a parent take a child to then the one that they themselves enjoyed as a child with the same playground equipment in place? It’s a circle-of-life type of experience with enduring classic equipment. Give your kids a chance at that cycle.
Anyone remember the “modern” 1960’s/1970’s triange/trapzoid style climbing gym that was at children’s playground in GGP? “Modern” tends to go out of style very fast. In a perhaps Madmen kind of way I am starting to miss it.
I agree with the both of you. As a nineteen year old, I’m out of my years where it’s socially acceptable to play at playgrounds, but I understand still what makes a playground great. The triangle climbing structure at Children’s Playground and the rest of that park was amazing. They ruined that playground when they remodeled it. It’s way too safe. All of the parks are way too safe now. I understand the need to remodel some of the parks. The structure at Richmond playground was approaching the point where it was going to fall before being torn down, but most structures aren’t like that. Keep the playgrounds fun for the kids. Remodel where it’s needed, but don’t change perfectly fine places that aren’t dangerous.
As a concerned parent, I would like to provide some of the reasons why this playground needs to be renovated (see below). I think it’s clear that there are actual safety hazards that are pressing concerns for parents, not just a desire to get rid of “classic” playground structures. I love the playgrounds around the Richmond, but I also want to know that my daughter is not being exposed to asbestos or arsenic.
“The playground, created nearly 30 years ago, contains deteriorated wooden structures that may contain arsenic and other hazardous materials once used to treat lumber. Children playing on the structures can be exposed to the toxins in the wood. Furthermore, the large amounts of sand surrounding the structure are difficult to keep clean and the playground lacks proper boundaries between both the nearby lake and busy streets.” (from fmlpp.org)
Leave it alone! Geez.
I disagree slightly with the fmlpp description — there is a decent separation between the playground and the streets, which are fairly quiet cul-de-sacs. And there is at least a little separation between the lower playground and the lake (path, chain, planting) but it could probably be better (and might allow opening up the landscaping between the main path and the lake). The structure does come from the old arsenic-treated lumber days.
I’ve played with grandkids on the MLP structure and it’s got some fine points; it also has some amazing random drop-offs from high places! The uppermost tower has uneven steps and was tough to squeeze into when chasing the little ones.
Below, the roller slides haven’t rolled well for years; there ought to be something better/more durable. The concrete slide still works great, as do the swings. They’ll probably be replaced by something too safe. I’ll take arsenic over toxic rubber matting.