City Parks Department to Replace RCA Park Playground Equipment This Fall
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 27, 2012
For more information contact
Barb Dunbar, Operations Coordinator, City of Bloomington Parks and Recreation Department, (812) 349-3498 or dunbarb@bloomington.in.gov
Architect's rendering of the new playground at RCA Community Park.Bloomington, IN - The City of Bloomington Parks and Recreation Department announced today the playground equipment at RCA Community Park will be dismantled and removed beginning Sept. 4 to make way for a new playground.
The department received a Community Development Block Grant from the city's Housing and Neighborhood Development Department to upgrade the playground, which is the only non-accessible playground remaining in the city parks system.
The grant funding, totaling $205,600, will be used to buy and install a new eight-swing swingset, specialized equipment designed and sized for children ages 2 through 5 years, and more challenging play apparatus for children ages 5 through 12 years. Rubber tile surfacing will be added to make the play areas and swings accessible, and a new concrete sidewalk around the playground will provide access both to the play equipment and to the restroom building.
A climbing net, similar to the climbing net at the playground at Lower Cascades Park, is a central part of the new playground. In addition, amenities like shaded benches, limestone mill blocks, and a drinking fountain will provide comforts that will encourage families and children to spend time enjoying the park and playground.
"RCA Community Park is a truly beautiful park, with just the right mix of natural and built environments to serve a large number of people," said Dave Williams, operations division director with the city's parks and recreation department. "Large destination playgrounds like the one we're building at RCA Community Park are what bring children and families to the park to visit, and to spend some real quality time. We look forward to providing a playground with opportunities for free, unstructured play and to being a part of the healthy, active lifestyles of area families."
RCA Community Park began as Thomson Community Park with the donation of 48.6 acres by Thomson Consumer Electronics in 1991.The current playground, plus the existing tennis and basketball courts, two picnic shelters, and two hard-surface trails were built in 1994. The name of the park was changed to RCA Community Park in 2009.
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