By Beacon Staff
For the past few years, Burlington Community Development and Parks Director Eric Tysland and city staff have worked toward building a new playground in Dankwardt Park. The current playground has been in the park for roughly 40 years and is long overdue for an update.
“We continue to see degradation. We are past the point it needs to be updated,” Tysland said.
Tysland has far more than a simple update in mind. During the city council work session Monday, July 25, he presented a handicap-accessible, ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) compliant playground that would appeal to all children.
“We need to have something significant there. A playground people will go to,” Tysland said.
The total cost for the project comes to $1.9 million – about $900,000 more than the original estimate at the beginning of the year.
“I know that’s a big number for people to look at,” Tysland said. “We looked at other communities to see what they’re doing with their playgrounds, and it’s not out of line for communities our size. But it is an ambitious goal to meet.”
A good chunk of that financial goal has already been met, Tysland said – roughly $650,000. Now that he has a price tag and a design for the playground, the fundraising campaign begins.
“We want it. Let’s figure out to get it done,” Mayor Jon Billups said during the work session. “I know families that drive to Ottumwa and drive to Keokuk every other weekend to use their playgrounds.”
Tysland said the plan is to open the playground next summer, though some equipment may come later, depending on how fundraising efforts go.
“I love the plan. I love that it’s inclusive,” said Burlington City Council member Lynda-Graham Murray.
A city poll asking Burlington residents what they would like to see in a new playground revealed that 87 percent desired a rubber/synthetic surface.
“It’s something we don’t have in any of our playgrounds,” Tysland said.
The safe playing surface will be a prominent feature of the new Dankwardt Park playground.
Measuring 6,500 square feet, the playground will include a wheelchair-inclusive spinner, wheelchair-inclusive swings, a tire swing, musical instruments, rocks for climbing, swinging benches for parents, and a double tower structure that reaches into the trees. The city hired Confluence, an architecture and urban design firm out of Cedar Rapids, to design the playground.
“We want to bring the playground up into the trees. Kind of that tree house effect. There’s a lot of unique opportunities for play in this tower,” Tysland said.
Tysland said beloved aspects of the old playground will be incorporated into the new one. The west side of the playground will be designated as a play area for toddlers between the ages of 2 and 5. The area will also be festooned with benches for parents, and a landscaped berm will surround part of the playground to encourage children to stay in the play area. New parking closer to the playground will be added at some point, and new pathways will link the bathrooms, skate park, and shelter houses. There will also be bike racks and water fountains.
Tysland said the playground will offer a challenging and imaginative experience. The layout will allow individuals of all ages and abilities to explore, have fun, interact, and enjoy the park like never before.
Now that the fundraising campaign has begun, Tysland and city staff are looking for creative ways to raise money – the first being an open house at 5 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 16, at the Burlington Public Library.
“We need people to give us ideas on fundraising activities and grant resources,” said city manager Chad Bird.
Tysland said the price of the playground will go up by 5 percent after the first of the year.
“We would like to build it all at once, but may have to install concrete first and then the playground equipment,” Tysland said, depending on fundraising. “It isn’t ideal, but maybe something we have to examine.”
City councilman Robert Critser said he’s excited about the new playground and would like to see the community get behind it.
“I am the generation that used that playground. My mom used to take me and my brother. We’re due for another one. It is a destination park. It’s something we should raise money for,” Critser said. “That’s the benefit of new equipment. It will bring people to Burlington.”
The money procured so far comes from local foundations dollars and the city and consists of $200,000 in American Rescue Act funds, $150,000 from Burlington’s local option sales tax, $150,000 from the Starker Fund, a $100,000 grant from the Wellmark Foundation, $20,000 from the Murray Foundation, $20,000 from the Great River Bridge Race, and $2,500 from Community Foundation DMC.