Local Park to see Second Generation

The city of Zanesville asked for the public’s help in creating a design for the second generation of a local park.

Designer Jim Houghton of Leather and Associates, the company responsible for the original playground, visited the Y-City Tuesday to hear what local residents want to see at ‘Kidzville 2’.

A meeting at Secrest Auditorium allowed community members to voice their opinions on the new construction. Public Service Director Jay Bennett said there’s one thing he can guarantee on the playground, more visibility.

“As a parent, you really want to be able to see through,” said Bennett. “Well in the mid-nineties when that was built, it was that heavy wood, that treated lumber. It’s thick. It’s dense. So as parents you’re looking and saying ‘where’s my little guy?’ so you’re looking and always working through. So as materials have changed, as concepts have changed, types of apparatuses have changed, I think the thing we heard today and I met with a resounding ‘yes’ was that you will see a less dense structure.”

The over $200,000 project is set for construction in late summer/early fall and Bennett hopes to unveil the park in 2017 featuring new equipment and some favorites requested like slides for racing down and a classic swing set. Bennett said he’s grateful for the volunteers who are stepping forward to help in the building process.

“We had a huge commitment from the community members and groups to come and help us build ‘Kidzville 2’.”

With feedback from the community, Houghton will create concepts for the city to review before the project moves forward.