Will we get our name pickets back?

Once it is actually time for construction of the new playground and we can dismantle that part of it, we will make sure there is a time for you to get your pickets. Please be patient as we are just in the planning phase and it will be awhile before we can take that fence apart.

We want to honor the people who helped make the original Kids Cove possible and are looking for ways to invite them to be part of the new Kids Cove.

Since demolition of the current playground is estimated to be Fall 2022, that SHOULD be when the opportunities to pick up the pickets will be scheduled.

Stay tuned to the website for further information on the playground evolution.

Will we have an opportunity to share our input on design?

The planning for the playground included public forums with ideas from the community which included children in its initial process. Based on a robust community input period, an all-inclusive playground concept design was created under the leadership of the contracted design team of Sanders and Czapski Associates in conjunction with Progressive AE specializing in Landscape Architecture, and Let Kids Play specializing in Inclusive Playgrounds. A preliminary design was shared at service club presentations and multiple informational booths during events hosted at Lower Harbor Park throughout 2021.

If we desire to help build the new playground, may we?

Once we have the design, which will occur with community input, we will be looking for ways that people and groups can help make it happen.

Keep an eye on the website for further developments and information and thanks again for reaching out!

Why has the projected goal for fund-raising for the playground changed?

From the beginning the scope of the playground was bigger than the dollar amount based on a 50/50 MNRTF match. The early planning work definitely dictated a playground as big as Kids Cove equipment wise. Doing so with the large required clear areas (for safety) by necessity made the playground larger and more expensive because of the surfacing. During our public forums, some VERY attractive equipment of the highest quality was voted by the public as definite "wants" and will add greatly to the fun factor for kids at the playground.

Why has the timeline for the completion of the new Kids Cove changed?

The timeline of the playground project has been and will be determined by multiple factors. Besides the speed of fundraising, which is influenced not only by individual contributions, but grant cycles in terms of when proposals can be submitted and decisions made for awards. The DNR Grant was a major win, but also has further requirements that dictate timing.

As far as the construction timing goes, that is mostly driven by materials availability and equipment delivery times.  Due to the pandemic, most manufacturers continue to see labor and material shortages negatively impacting their manufacturing operations while at the same time are seeing historic highs in sales.  Kind of that perfect storm of demand far outstripping supply.  Even if we ordered the equipment yesterday it would not be here in time to install this fall.  So the decision to bid the work over the winter, hopefully when supply chain issues and material costs have resolved themselves we will have a better bid result.  The plan is that the kids can play at the current Kids Cove right through the Labor Day Holiday and work can begin in the spring.

Will you be re-using the existing materials?

Extensive use and age have resulted in safety concerns for our children playing on the structure. In 2003, the EPA banned the future use of the type of treated lumber used in the construction of Kids Cove. Replacing the structure with materials that meet today’s standards is needed in the best interest of our community’s health and safety.

We cannot dismantle it and rebuild it or donate the parts to other playgrounds because the materials and design do not meet today's standards and are in too poor a condition. We will also consider recycling some of the elements through traditional recycling means or re-use in a non-play type scenario such as art.

What about the trees that are near the existing playground?

Be assured that we placed high value on them and made the best design choices based on their condition.

 There will be several trees that will be removed once construction starts, but you should know that several have already been removed by the City crews!!

 One of the first things our design team did, even before beginning the site survey was to evaluate the condition of the trees surrounding the playground.  From the beginning it was obvious that the playground would need to be bigger to support even the current amount of play equipment.  This is because of the clear area that must surround each item, which is larger than when the playground was originally built 25 years ago.  This is a safety issue.  Each of the trees near the playground were mapped and their condition reviewed for general heath and their physical conformation (i.e. good branch architecture).  Once the trees were mapped and we had made our assessment we inspected each tree with the City arborist.  They confirmed our assessment of the from and condition of the trees and also shared their assessment of tree health.  Essentially, as with most of the Midwest, the ash trees are in decline, due to disease transmitted by the ash borer.  Designing around these trees would incur significant cost and in the end they would not likely survive much longer.  There are two crimson king maples along the south edge of the existing playground.  Those two trees appeared healthy and have been worked into the plan.  They will be adjacent to the music and quiet zones and will add their shade to those spaces.  The majority of the other trees nearest to the playground are little leaf lindens.  Their condition was poor, mostly due to weak branching and occluded bark.  Their stress was obvious due to considerable suckering and new branch formation at the base of the trunk.  Also, I believe it was the summer before last one blew down across the playground causing some damage including smashing the fence on the south side.  Again our decision to remove them was based on their limited life span and the likelihood that due to their branch structure they would continue to shed large branches and be a potential hazard to the structures and the children playing at Kids Cove.  There are also several nice red pines, a nice red oak and a silver poplar along the north side of the playground, all of which are in good health and will be protected from damage during construction.  Also, there is a pair of tamaracks that are also healthy and will be protected from adverse effects of construction.  Lastly, north and west of the playground there is an ornamental  Katsura tree that was planted as a memorial tree, it will also be protected from effects of construction.

 As a gesture to preserve the value of the trees that have and will be removed, the wood resulting from the tree removal has been donated to members of the Superiorland Wood Turners club.  Any of the ash  not used by the turning club was disposed of as prescribed for the control of the ash borer. 

 New trees will be included in the new playground so that, in time, they will provide the same shade and grace that the ash and lindens did for the last two decades.

Why can't kids cove keep the existing wood framed structures?

It would seem to be an easy question to answer, but there were a lot of things considered in making the decision to replace rather than refurbish the wood structures at Kids Cove. First the existing structures were manufactured 25 years ago using arsenic containing treatment materials. While there is little to no measurable hazard for the use of Kids Cove to children, it was decided that investing in generational improvements at Kids Cove using materials that were banned from residential use since 2003 by the EPA was not a prudent investment. The existing structures would need significant investment to modify them to meet existing playground safety rules. They could be sanded and coated and re-worked, but at the end of the day the resulting playground would still be made of a material that is near the end of its useful life.

Is the new playground going to be built using cheap plastic?

Absolutely not. The new playground will be built from a variety of materials, most of which will be functional as long or longer than wood structures and will require less expensive maintenance. Most structural elements will be manufactured from steel and structural aluminum. These materials are protected with a PVC-free thermoplastic coating that is far more environmentally friendly in its manufacture and also provides excellent heat dissipation properties to protect children from the boiler hot steel that some of the older crowd are familiar with. Materials like bench slats, swing seats and similar components are manufactured from High Density Polyethylene (HDPE). This is a form of plastic known for its strength and durability. It is also used for things like water mains and similar uses where strength and longevity are important. These materials include recycled HDPE in their manufacture using things like milk jugs. A typical bench includes approximately 500 milk jugs in its manufacture with a larger play structure using up to 70,000 milk jugs. HDPE play equipment components are also resistant to cracking and splintering and also have excellent thermal properties. The steel, aluminum and HDPE materials used at Kids Cove are also recyclable once they reach the end of their useful life. With regular maintenance there is no reason to believe that Kids Cove won't provide many happy memories for another 25 years.

Why can't the play surface be made from locally available wood chips? They are inexpensive and readily available.

The American's With Disabilities Act requires that playgrounds meet accessibility requirements. What is commonly referred to as wood chips from local sources for play surfacing does not typically meet accessibility and fall protection requirements. Engineered Wood Fiber (EWF) that is permitted for playgrounds is produced following rigorous manufacturing and testing standards for accessibility and for fall protection. EWF does meet the requirements of the ADA, however accessibility for a young wheel chair user normally will still require caregiver assistance. The use of EWF normally includes shipping from long distances and also requires daily maintenance to preserve its fall protection properties. Unitary surface materials like artificial playground grass and poured in place protective surfaces (PIP) require little regular maintenance and provide superior fall protection. They also provide superior accessibility where wheel chair users and caregivers can propel themselves across the playground.