Local residents to receive survey to gage possible grant for community playground improvements

“Quality Play for All” is the name of a local effort to revamp playgrounds in Junction City – specifically, the Fifth Street Playground Park.

Joy Davis is amongst those championing the effort. “I’ve been dreaming about this for about 10 years, because I felt like Playground Park was worn out 10 years ago.”

Davis noted that the newest equipment at the park was installed in 1985. “Over the years it’s been well used, and it’s worn out; the Parks and Rec Department does a good job of keeping it as safe as possible, but there are things from the elements that they just can’t correct.”

Davis is working with Angie Greenwood and Theresa Bramlage, amongst others to obtain a matching grant to renovate Playground Park and then other local parks like the Bramlage Skate Park. A matching grant means that if the community is able to raise $10,000 – for example, the grant would award an amount of $10,000. Davis said the goal is to raise $200,000 locally.

Part of the grant requires community support in the form of a random survey.

“A random survey will be sent out and we will need to get back a response of at least 585 households,” said Greenwood. “It won’t be a difficult survey, it’s going to be totally private, it won’t be tabulated locally here by anyone; and it will determine whether we qualify.”

The group would then submit the entire grant application.

Ideas are already in place for the type of renovation that they would like to have at the park.

“[Playground] equipment nowadays incorporates what’s called the seven elements of play,” said Greenwood. “And those things are sliding, spinning, balancing, climbing, swinging and brachiating – which is developing your upper body.”

New equipment at the park could feature climbing ropes and a turf-like surface for the ground underneath. All equipment would be ADA accessible and accommodate children of varying ages.

Greenwood and Davis both noted that residents should be on the lookout for the survey in the mail; if the grant process is successful, this will be the first of many park renovations in the community.