Bryan Park Playground Will Be Replaced This Spring

Bloomington, Ind.—Parks and Recreation is removing the juvenile (intended for use by children ages 5 to 12 years) playground near the basketball courts at Bryan Park, 1001 S. Henderson St., this month to make way for updated, more accessible play equipment and safety surfacing.

The play equipment being replaced was originally installed in 1999, and is the oldest current playground in the city park system.

Community members submitted more than 400 survey responses in early 2023, detailing the types of playground equipment desired in the new playground. Further community input about the playground equipment and design was also gathered at a public meeting following the conclusion of the survey.

Ohio-based Snider Recreation, Inc. was selected from seven playground equipment suppliers to provide and install the new equipment. The new playground includes two slides, an accessible carousel, a "Victory Tower” (a unique climbing structure similar to the “warped wall” popularized by ninja-style obstacle courses), and other elements. New poured-in-place rubber safety surfacing will improve accessibility and safety in the new playground area. The swings will also be replaced, with new engineered wood fiber surfacing installed underneath.

The total cost of $359,770 for the playground equipment, rubber safety surfacing, and installation is paid by American Rescue Plan Act Funds.

Parks and Recreation staff will begin removing the current playground equipment in early March. Installation of the new equipment is scheduled to take place, weather permitting, in April, with a ribbon cutting ceremony tentatively planned for spring 2024.

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