The Lincoln Park South Play area located in Lincoln Park 8011 Fauntleroy Way SW, Seattle, WA 98136 near the south parking lot is the subject of a 2nd meeting on Jan. 24 at 7:30pm. The first meeting on Nov. 29 reviewed some of the potential choices of equipment and layout and yielded public reaction, even though only seven people attended. Those notes are below.
This project will replace play equipment, provide access improvements and improve other features at the park. The scope for the project provides improvements to bring the play area into compliance with current play area safety standards and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) access.
in the first meeting the notes included the following:
Questions and Comments
• Don’t like ‘modern’ look
• Don’t like animals – “horrible” (in response to an image of a dinosaur with large teeth). Why put such horrible creatures in a children’s play area.
• Existing walls – is there a dragon theme? Will it be kept?
• Like the poem that relates to ecology
• Please remove the sand pit
• Where will seating be?
• Is SPR keeping the existing zipline? Note: the old zipline was removed – it did not meet the new safety standards. There is a new zipline at the north play area.
Option #1 – Climbing tower
• Upper structure is nice for views – these are cool
• What is meant by ‘challenging’ and what is a hillside slide?
• The school district preferers plastic over metal on their slides.
• Like the naturalistic look in the old zipline area – good idea.
• Can we have little seats and things such as logs as extra seating.
• Like the more natural colors over bright colors.
Option #2 – Climbing net
• What’s a spinner? Is it connected to the ground?
• Will there be different structures for different age groups?
Option #3 – Dragons and animals
• Horrible. Are there examples of parks with this theme?
Option #4 – modern
• Wouldn’t want my child running thru tubes and slides.
Open Discussion
• Great ideas – really like the climbing.
• Great job.
• Open slide is fantastic; otherwise I don’t see anything inviting/constructive for children.
• Animals will bet scratched – too many hiding places. Need to be able to see the kids.
• Net climber too tall, worried that kids might fall or get caught.
• Like the obstacle course ideas.
• Like the tower.
• Don’t like the climbing ropes – kids can get stuck.
• Kids love twirley things.
• Kids love fire poles and drawbridges.
• Anything that makes noise at the top works.
• Monkey bars are “in” – we need these, really important.
• More swings – need 6 for big kids
• Like the rocks and nets and obstacle course.
• Like ‘forestry’ and signage at the north play area. Perhaps incorporate a water theme here?
• Add ferry theme.
• Like the view on the tall structure
• Like the more natural colors.
• More “woodsy” looking.
• Don’t like the idea of nets – seems dangerous
• Like the slide.
• Don’t like the dinosaur.
• Is there music in the little structure? Can the music be in tune?
• Talking tubes never work.
• What is the purpose of the waling log? – Balance bean – lovely!
• #1 is swings – at least two.
• Like the little play area for the smaller kids.
• Like natural colors.
• Add nets to the structure.
• Like dragon, poem and water themes.
• Info panels not necessary – work theme into the structure.
• Obstacle course perfect in zipliner area. Kids love that.
• Balance things/rock back and forth/spring – kids love.
I really like the view b (dinosaurs) and view c (woodland). I think playgrounds with themes help capture the kids imagination and spur on creative play. Not as much a fan of the modern looking ones. As far as amenities I’m pretty open. Kids go through phases and each one like something different. My kids are young and still learning to to use many of the structures amenities.