Played out: Hollidaysburg American Legion closes wooden play park due to unsafe conditions
Hollidaysburg Legion closes wooden play park due to unsafe conditions
Orange traffic barrels and tape block off the entrance of the wooden play structure inside the Hollidaysburg American Legion Memorial Park. Its recent closure was attributed to unsafe conditions within the playground by Legion officials. Mirror photo by Rachel Foor-Musselman
Orange traffic barrels and tape block off the entrance of the wooden play structure inside the Hollidaysburg American Legion Memorial Park. Its recent closure was attributed to unsafe conditions within the playground by Legion officials. Mirror photo by Rachel Foor-Musselman
A sign outside the Discovery Garden in the Hollidaysburg American Legion Memorial Park announces the closure of its wooden play structure. Mirror photo by Rachel Foor-Musselman
The wooden play structure inside the Hollidaysburg American Legion Memorial Park was recently closed due to unsafe conditions. Mirror photo by Rachel Foor-Musselman
The wooden play structure inside the Hollidaysburg American Legion Memorial Park was recently closed due to unsafe conditions. Mirror photo by Rachel Foor-Musselman
Orange traffic barrels and tape block off the entrance of the wooden play structure inside the Hollidaysburg American Legion Memorial Park. Its recent closure was attributed to unsafe conditions within the playground by Legion officials. Mirror photo by Rachel Foor-Musselman
Orange traffic barrels and tape block off the entrance of the wooden play structure inside the Hollidaysburg American Legion Memorial Park. Its recent closure was attributed to unsafe conditions within the playground by Legion officials. Mirror photo by Rachel Foor-Musselman
A sign outside the Discovery Garden in the Hollidaysburg American Legion Memorial Park announces the closure of its wooden play structure. Mirror photo by Rachel Foor-Musselman
The wooden play structure inside the Hollidaysburg American Legion Memorial Park was recently closed due to unsafe conditions. Mirror photo by Rachel Foor-Musselman
The wooden play structure inside the Hollidaysburg American Legion Memorial Park was recently closed due to unsafe conditions. Mirror photo by Rachel Foor-Musselman
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HOLLIDAYSBURG -- The Hollidaysburg American Legion recently closed its large, wooden play park to the public due to safety concerns, with Legion officials confirming their intent to raze and replace the structure.
American Legion Post 516 Commander Sam Dunkle said "there has been a lot of damage" caused to the structure by certain individuals, including a broken slide that essentially turned it into a "slicer."
"We're talking about the shelflife of the park, and it is now coming to an end," Dunkle said. "It's just not safe for the kids."
The wood, which was originally treated, is starting to splinter, with bees creating nests in the area, Dunkle said.
The Legion, the Borough of Hollidaysburg, the Hollidaysburg mayor and the Hollidaysburg Area's Women's Club, who had come together "years ago" to put the play park in place, met recently and decided "it would be in the best interest if we closed the play park and actually raze it," Dunkle said.
There are no defined dates or a timeline for the project, as it is in its very early stages, with Dunkle saying "right now, we're just trying to get it torn down."
"We just got an unrealistic bid from a company in Tyrone," Dunkle said, saying they were quoted about $40,000 for the structure's demolition. "So, we're looking at other organizations."
They are also researching different kinds of playgrounds, what they might need and said the local YMCA's structures would serve as a kind of inspiration. One aspect Dunkle has looked into is the use of composite flooring, which wouldn't rot or splinter.
"As it stands right now, our intent is to hopefully get enough money to gut and replace all at once," Dunkle said.
While the timeline is in the works, Dunkle's best case scenario would be for the new play park to be ready in time for the Dell Delight Park's opening in April.
The Discovery Garden, pavilions, ball fields and green space will still receive the Legion's "complete support," Dunkle said.
"We're committed to moving forward with enhancing the park and improving it," Dunkle said. "We want a green space for the people of our community to be able to recreate without a safety risk."
The American Legion Memorial Park, located at 1501 N. Juniata St., has been owned and maintained by Post 516 since it purchased the land during the Great Depression.
Mirror Staff Writer Rachel Foor-Musselman is at 814-946-7458.