Weather delays opening of new Waldport playground until spring

Ron Caldwell **A photo from an aerial lift gives a birds eye view of playground construction at Louis Southworth Park in Waldport.**

WALDPORT – Opening of the new playground at the 14-acre Louis Southworth Park in Waldport is delayed indefinitely because of weather conditions that prevent its surfacing from being installed.

The city had hoped to have the 14,000-square-foot playground ready for use this fall but temperatures must be within certain limits to install the pour-in-place surface, said city manager Dann Cutter.

“Based on the recorded temperatures in the area, and the next 14 days of weather predictions, there are only two work days of time that is expected to meet the requirements for surfacing installation,” Cutter said.

Based on historic weather patterns, the two-week weather-window needed to install the surface will likely not occur until sometime this spring, he said.

“It appears, even though tremendous effort was made both by Gametime, the city and volunteers, that we have missed the window for a fall surface installation.”

The top-of-the-line ADA-compliant rubber surfacing is hard enough to roll a wheelchair across while also being soft enough to cushion falls. GameTime, the company that supplied the playground equipment, was also awarded the $250,000 contract to supply and install the surface.

A fence has been erected to keep people away from the playground but video surveillance captured two children trespassing shortly after it was erected last month.

The multi-colored playground has 15 slides, six swings, merry-go-rounds and a spinning rope tower.

“I am trying to see the forest for the trees,” Cutter said of the delay. “It means we can put up the permanent fencing, get the bathrooms and benches done, the roadway fixed, and address any lingering equipment issues before opening. But – I am pretty bummed.”