CRESTWOOD — It’s election season, but the debate over who should become America’s next president is the last thing on Long Elementary School students’ minds.
They had a much more pressing choice Friday: What should Crestwood’s biggest and busiest playground look like?
Students provided their expert feedback and voted on designs for a new playground in Crestwood Park by “casting†votes (or, rather, placing yellow stickers next to renderings of playground designs they liked most).
“They’re the experts at playgrounds,†Mayor Scott Shipley said. “They use this playground every day.â€
This is the first project the city of Crestwood will complete as part of April’s voter-approved , which included a $33 million bond issue to fund a major overhaul of the city’s parks. Also on the bill is a new community center in Whitecliff Park.
People are also reading…
The current playground in Crestwood Park is just a short walk behind Long Elementary. It’s seen its fair share of wear and tear. Neighborhood kids damaged a large plastic dinosaur and rock climbing wall with fireworks. When it rains, water pools near the swings.
And, at about 20 years old, it’s reached the end of its life, city officials said.
“It’s time for something new, something better,†Parks and Recreation Director Eillien Ramirez said.
Students said they were bored with the old playground anyway.
“I want them to tear it down!†second grader Ben Prascoe said.
Crestwood presented 13 designs to residents throughout the summer and narrowed the selection to three.
At Long, students overwhelmingly voted for the playground with a large zipline toward the front and a “sky tower system†they could climb on.
Second grader Sydney Walters oohed and ahhed at different playgrounds with a friend. They marveled at a tall curved wall it had for kids to try to run up and reach the top.
But Walters ultimately placed her sticker next to the winningest design “because it had the most votes.â€
The Crestwood Park playground is scheduled to be renovated in spring, with a ribbon cutting in May.