No 'lion': New playground coming to Lions Park

SANDUSKY — Expect the kids to go wild for new amenities at Lions Park.Just like their jungle counterparts, the children can soon swing, climb, run and prowl across a fresh playing surface.During Monday's public meeting, city commissioners approved a $66,000 purchase order to buy playground equipment at the waterfront green space property off Lasalle Street. The money comes from a park-related local account."The new equipment will replace the old section of play structures that are in the southern-central portion of the park," city public services director Brad Link said. "Those structures will be taken down in the near future. Crews will be out dismantling the swing and play set as soon as next week."Link anticipates the new playground set to debut sometime this summer.Lions Park's two newer playgrounds — near the restroom shelter and by the walkway — will remain intact.A new playground coming to Lions Park later this year will replace outdated and unsafe equipment, such as a rusted swing set.During the past year, city officials have committed about $200,000 in public funds to specifically revamp playgrounds in four green spaces: Lions as well as Orlando Pace, Shoreline and Wilbert Street parks."We understand the importance of our park system and the role it plays in revitalizing the community," Link said. "Enhancing our play structures helps us in attracting families to neighborhoods that have safe play equipment that is accessible for all ages and abilities."Officials promised they'll commit even more resources to modernize city-based play areas in the near future."We will continue to improve parks every year with play equipment, shelter updates, benches, picnic tables and/or sidewalks," Link said.An artist rendering shows how the new swing set could appear at Lions Park. During Monday's public meeting, city commissioners approved a $66,000 purchase order to buy playground equipment at the waterfront green space property, located off Lasalle Street. Progress on the planNew playground equipment helps fulfill an ongoing, and longstanding, master plan process to transform Lions Park."This is the first step to completing that plan," Link said. "The addition and placement of the play set will be in line with the master plan."A few years ago, city officials began dedicating public resources to enhance Lions Park. For instance, they added a new waterfront walkway, basketball courts, a restroom shelter, a splash pad and other playground equipment there.After they install a new playground structure later this year, city officials still want to:• Transform parking areas so they become more environmentally friendlyWhen heavy rains fall, untreated water runs off the pavement at Lions Park and enters Sandusky Bay, polluting Erie County's premier natural resource. A pervious parking lot would allow water to seep within and underneath the pavement, entering into a storm system, which can properly cleanse water.The project should prevent about 284,000 gallons of untreated water from reaching Sandusky Bay and Lake Erie each year.In mid-2016, the city received $175,000 in federal funds to pursue this initiative and other environmental-related projects at Lions Park. Construction could start either this year or in 2018.• Reconfigure the park's roadway to allow for more bicycle, pedestrian and other non-motorized trafficAn artist rendering shows roundabouts, or traffic circles, guiding vehicles on a narrow roadway weaving throughout the area. People can also park along portions of the roadway.A new road pattern would also mean enhancing and enlarging the existing walkway. A bigger pathway spanning the park's perimeter could encourage more walkers, runners, bicyclists and others to come visit Lions Park.• Address some shoreline concernsAbout a month ago, a resident raised some issues with the somewhat-submerged, eroded barrier, which can't fully protect the park's shoreline from the force of waves.Officials, piggybacking off those concerns, also want to clean up concrete and other debris scattered around the shoreline.Completing unfinished projects resulted from a recommendation in Sandusky's bicentennial vision, or master plan, process."Finishing up these improvements at Lions Park is important and a great benefit to the entire community," city manager Eric Wobser said.An artist rendering shows how Lions Park would look with a new pedestrian path, outlined in red dashes, along with a reconfigured roadway pattern, which includes parking areas. Sandusky officials recently applied for federal funding to help offset costs associated with these planned upgrades. Playground partsThe new playground at Lions Park, set to debut this summer, will feature the following pieces of equipment:• Two-bay swing set, consisting of two "tot" swings and two "belt" swings• Seesaw• Balance beam• Backhoe diggers• 'Xcelerator,' equipment children can lean, climb and swing on• A police car "cruisn' mate" decaled in memory of slain Sandusky police Officer Andrew Dunn• Engineered wood-fiber surfacingReach reporter Andy Ouriel at ouriel@sanduskyregister.com and follow him on Twitter @AndyOuriel.An artist rendering shows how a new playground equipment set could appear at Lions Park. During Monday's public meeting, city commissioners approved a $66,000 purchase order to buy playground equipment at the waterfront green space property, located off Lasalle Street.