Council Members Angie Arp and Bruce Pack check on progress of the playground at City Park.

 

After seven months of waiting, the City Park playground is back.  The playground features four slides ranging from 8 feet to 12 feet; 10 different climbing areas; a circular spinner and swings.  Several of the components are specifically for children under five, including a toddler swing that both a parent and a child can be on at the same time.  A slide, a swing and the spinner are also handicapped accessible so all of Blue Ridge’s children can enjoy City Park.

To the delight of parents and disappointment of children, pebbles underneath the playground equipment have been replaced with wood chips manufactured for playground use, meaning the splinters and jagged edges have been worn down.

A four-foot high decorative fence surrounds the playground to safely corral Fannin’s youngest citizens inside.  There are two self-latching gates, one on Church Street and one next to the bathrooms. The Church Street gate is closest to the handicapped accessible equipment

Currently there aren’t any benches where adults can recharge their adult batteries while watching children rundown their high-energy children’s batteries.

The playground was set to install in December.  Blue Ridge City Council member Angie Arp said she “begged and pleaded” with the playground equipment company to install it earlier and they were able to comply.  Helping to drive the urgency home was the fact that the company’s owners have a house in Fannin County.

No doubt people are glad to have the playground back.  The process, though, has further splintered the Blue Ridge City Council and called into question the Council’s ability to work as a team and fairly and equitably respond to concerns of Blue Ridge residents and businesses.  An upcoming article will cover some of the unresolved issues surrounding the park.  Right now, it’s time to play!