A new era for Chieftain Park: Playground closing Monday to make way for new equipment
Cunningham Recreation
These renderings give a glimpse of what the new Chieftain Park playground will look like when it’s completed next February or March. The nearly $1 million project will double the size of the current playground, which was built in 2003.A project that started roughly a year ago soon will begin the process of building a new playground for Chieftain Park.
The current playground area will close Monday so that city crews can begin readying the current equipment for demolition.
Cunningham Recreation
These renderings give a glimpse of what the new Chieftain Park playground will look like when it’s completed next February or March. The nearly $1 million project will double the size of the current playground, which was built in 2003.
Playground installation will begin once demolition is complete and a brand new playground with additional amenities will be finished in February or March.
Tonganoxie Recreation Commission director Brad Eccles said Monday that crews anticipate being done in late winter. Heavy snows would slow down the timeline, but workers are able to put the playgrounds together throughout the winter months.
“They’ll work through the winter as long as it doesn’t get too terribly cold,” Eccles said.
The city of Tonganoxie and TRC have partnered on the project, which is expected to cost just under $1 million. Cunningham Recreation is in charge of the equipment, with Game Time being the equipment supplier.
RJR Construction will be installing the equipment.
The new playground will provide expanded square footage and safety, according to Eccles. Roughly 2,200 more square footage will be part of the facility.
Cunningham Recreation
These renderings give a glimpse of what the new Chieftain Park playground will look like when it’s completed next February or March. The nearly $1 million project will double the size of the current playground, which was built in 2003.
The swing set will be moved to the east and outside the original footprint of the playground to free up more space for equipment. Crews also will install fencing on the west side of the space to provide a buffer between playground and parking lot. In addition, workers will remove some existing curb to make for a zero-entry entrance/exit near the shelter house.
Some of the amenities are:
• Game Time’s Vista Tower, which will sky more than 20 feet into the air.
“It will really challenge kids that love to climb and it connects with the main structure to make the playground really unique,” Eccles said.
• The new playground will double the amount of slides currently in Chieftain Park.
• There will be a 4-foot mound for climbing with a slide.
• Traditional swings will be in the playground, as well as a saucer swing.
As part of the process, TRC conducted surveys with the community to determine what features would be most wanted for the playground that originally was built in 2003.
Some of the survey results were:
• The most desired play style was climbing followed closely by sliding and swinging. Overall, 75% said a quality playground surface was essential.
• In addition, 50% said shade incorporated into the playground was essential.
• The public wanted added amenities and more diverse equipment.
Cunningham Recreation
These renderings give a glimpse of what the new Chieftain Park playground will look like when it’s completed next February or March. The nearly $1 million project will double the size of the current playground, which was built in 2003.
Eccles said the rec commission received substantial feedback about making the equipment more accessible to all abilities. For instance, one play structure is ramped and includes activity panels. There also are transfer stations and activity panels on other structures. The roxall see-saw allows for transfer from mobility devices to center saucer or chair to play with friends. The inclusive whirl allows zero entry for folks in mobility devices to enjoy with their friends. Meanwhile, the GT splash is an inclusive net climber with a transfer station and a sure grip route to a 6-foot slide. And, expression swings allow adults to swing face to face with their child.
The city and TRC first advertised request for qualifications on the project this past November, so the the endeavor started nearly a year ago.
For more about the project, visit tongierec.org or the Tonganoxie Recreation Commission Facebook page.