New playground equipment to be safer

It’s been a long time coming but by the end of the month, children will have a new—and much safer—structure to play on at the Lions Park in Emo.
Bridget Beck, one of the playground committee members, and Grace Silander, chair of the Rainy River Valley Safety Coalition, stopped by the park last Thursday evening to check out the current structure and pointed out many of its flaws.
“There’s not enough dirt for a soft landing,” noted Silander, gesturing to the bottom of the straight slide.
She said perhaps there once was more dirt but it’s been worn down and is now unsafe. The new piece of equipment will use a special playground sand.
“There are a lot more safety features on the new one,” Beck echoed.
For instance, any piece several feet off the ground will have a proper cage around it so youngsters already will be on their way down the slide before leaving the cage.
“They won’t be able to fall through,” said Beck, adding these features make the structure suitable for small children where the current one does not.
She noted upgrades had been done, which improved the old playground equipment, but it was decided it was time for something new.
Beck and several other mothers, including Marnie Redford, Dawn Morriseau, and Crystal Hyatt, came together in 2000 after discovering the equipment was not as safe as it could be and wasn’t accessible for younger children.
“It’s the little ones you worry about,” Beck stressed. “They’re too young to realize what is dangerous.”
The group raised more than $15,000 by holding raffles, selling chocolate bars, and through donations. In addition, the Ontario Trillium Foundation provided $29,000 over one year while the Rainy River Valley Safety Coalition chipped in $1,000.
“That’s the maximum for anybody,” Silander said of the RRVSC’s contribution. “And it’s exciting to see younger people coming forward and putting in a proposal.”
She also noted unsafe playgrounds are the third-highest risk among youngsters.
“So it’s a good investment,” Silander remarked. “We’re excited to see the new and improved playground.”
Beck said many parents and children in the community also are excited about the new structure. “I’ve been showing the picture to people and everyone seems to like it,” she remarked.
The brightly-coloured, roughly 1,800 sq. ft. piece of equipment features wide steps, several climbing areas, a “spring across” balance beam, and a “double swirl poly-slide.”
“It’s much bigger than what we have now,” Beck noted.
The current structure will be dismantled sometime next week, with even the timbers surrounding the area being moved to make room for the 49’x49’ enclosure.
A representative from the company where the equipment was purchased is scheduled to begin installation of it on May 29-30.
“And we’re looking for volunteers to help put it in,” Beck said, adding the equipment only should take only two days. “We need about eight people.
“This is really great for all children in the community,” she enthused. “It’s much safer and parents won’t have to worry so much.”
If anyone is able to help with the installation, contact Beck at the Emo municipal office.