A second phase with additional structure, benches still to come
A project that families have been waiting for completion in Rockmart for the past months is now (in part) ready for youth to enjoy at the Nathan Dean Sports Complex.
After grass seed and backfilling of the area around the new playground was completed on Wednesday, the city announced this afternoon the space is now open for kids to come out and enjoy.
With some caveats: not all of the equipment has been installed, and parents will need to bring their own chairs. Just for the time being.
City Manager Stacey Smith said the next phase should be coming soon, but a specific date for delivery isn’t immediately available since it is dependent on the manufacturer.
“We are very excited that the public can now get out and enjoy the playground that we know everyone has been waiting for over the past months,” Smith said. “We also look forward to be able to expand the area as the process of finishing the space continues ahead in the coming weeks and months.”
The city is still supposed to get a few pieces of equipment to install, including an awning for an existing play structure, benches, and the city is also looking at an awning or covering similar to what was previously available for parents and youth to sit in the shade. Some additional play equipment is coming as well as part of the second phase.
Assistant City Manager and Fire Chief Todd Queen noted that the city also put in a sidewalk that leads from the softball fields parking lot to the new playground area for handicapped accessibility.
Safety issues forced the city to close the old wooden play structure built in 1999 during the Fall of 2022, and decided to pay to have it replaced earlier this year instead of organizing a volunteer effort as had been completed in the past.
Work began on the new playground in June. The city has paid $210,000 for the playground currently in place. Additional funding below $100,000 will be required to finish off the working in the coming months.
The city ultimately decided to go ahead and open Phase 1 of the playground to allow kids to play on it since many were enjoying the area in an incomplete status.
“We appreciate the patience of our community as this process has gone on,” Queen said. “We now have a play space out there that is safe and inclusive, that all age groups of children can use and it is something we can hopefully be proud of as a city and treat with respect.”
