The Clinton Park playground is nearly 30 years old and in need of renovation. Its unique two-level design presents both challenges and opportunities for the design, as replacing the retaining walls adds significant cost to the project.

The Clinton Park Playground Renovation survey was open for approximately four weeks from March to April 21, 2022. It was distributed digitally on SurveyMonkey, and promoted through physical mailers, GovDelivery, and Facebook. Funding was not available to move forward with the project at that time of the survey, but the input was used to help design the concepts.

2022 Survey Summary of Results

Respondents

74 respondents. Most respondents had 1-3 kids of all age range (0-18). Users include differently-abled and autistic children.

High Level Takeaways

• Overall, people like the format of the playground – the equipment needs some updates, including variety for multiple ages and variety of physical abilities
• Improve setting (trees with shade, bi-level, hill provides wind protection, away from the road)
• Provide a range of equipment for all ages (slide, swings, baby swings, sandbox, climbing equipment)
• Other (sledding hill, sport courts)

Desired Equipment

• More swings (50%) - includes more kid and baby swings, accessible swing, tire swing
• Equipment to climb on and slide down! (for all ages)
• Group play devices (ex. Merry-go-round)
• More variety/challenge for older kids
• Accessible programming
• More color!
• Natural play elements - lots of enthusiasm (85%) and some concern over splinters, sharp rocks, and toddler safety
• Sandboxes
  • Yes (61%) Good for small children and autism-spectrum
  • No (39%) Strong concerns about maintenance (weeds) and cleanliness (animal feces)

Caregiver Desires

• Seating, picnic tables with site lines to kids and shade
• Other amenities (restrooms. trash can, drinking fountain, pavilion)
• Accessible routes, including better access from Pebble Creek /JCC (currently walk through grass) – would also keep kids from having to use Stone School Road entrance on a busier street
• Equipment that is fun for grownups to play on too!
• Improved safety – especially between the two tiers

Areas for Improvement

• Out-dated and dangerous equipment (rocking horses, rusty metal balance beam, climbing structure with mid air opening)
• Basic equipment that kids get bored with easily (number/tic tac to boards, monkey bars)
• Unmaintained equipment (weedy sand box with broken diggers, uneven swings)
• Lack of accessibility
• Woodchip surface
• Maintenance issues: weed control, trash, rotting wood at the retaining wall and stairs, water fountain rarely works, rusty, broken swings