Highland moving forward with plans to add ADA-friendly playground at Hoffman Park
Highland hopes to add a new disability-friendly playground to Hoffman Park, with the help of a local recreation district.
The Highland City Council voted Monday, Aug. 1, to apply for a grant from the Metro-East Park and Recreation District to help fund improvements to Hoffman Park — specifically an ADA-friendly playground.
Hoffman Park was named in memory of the late Ernie Hoffman, father of state Rep. Jay Hoffman (D-Swansea), in 1989. However, after many years of maintenance, the playground needed to be removed for safety, according to parks and recreation director Mark Rosen.
“Unfortunately it reached a point where replacement parts were obsolete and the repairs were just beyond our control,” Rosen said.
Hoffman Park will be the last of the eight parks in Highland to have an updated playground.
“One of my goals when starting as director of parks and recreation in 1996 was to update every park’s playground — starting from the oldest to the newest,” Rosen said. “Although the order didn’t work out exactly as I had hoped because we lost a playground to arson about 15 years ago, this playground will finally achieve that goal.”
Hoffman Park is located on Second Street in Highland. It is an older area of Highland bordered by railroad tracks and commercial properties, according to the application.
“As with any neighborhood, families age out and are replaced with new families,” the application read. “Regardless the age of the family, however, this new playground will replace a 40-year-old playground (and) will serve parents and grandparents with a wholesome play experience for their children.”
Hoffman is a small park, featuring an original pavilion and swingset after the removal of the previous playground. Although the park is primarily used by neighbors, some play groups come to the park and active grandparents often bring their grandchildren to it, as well as parents and caregivers with disabilities, according to city documents.
“The proposed playground will give a proverbial breath of fresh air to the park,” read the city’s grant application. “The color scheme is bright and attracting for children, and the multiple features will entice the young ones to interact with peers on equipment that will promote physical activity, creativity and social interaction.”
American with Disabilities Act
The playground will meet the needs of people with disabilities by using a ramp and rubber tiles, meeting requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act. There will be three interactive activity panels, transition points to access the slides, and a merry-go-round, as well as traditional slides.
In all, the playground design includes 22 different features that not only will entertain children up to age 12, but also accommodate the parents, to allow them to interact with their children while they play, according to the application documents. It will also be the first Highland playground to include shaded structures.
The playground also will have interlocking rubber tiles rather than pea gravel or mulch, which are greatly appreciated by parents and allow people with disabilities to participate “rather than as a spectator from a nearby bench,” according to the application.
More project details
The estimated project total is $156,728, and the city is requesting an MEPRD grant of $62,691, which is the maximum amount allowed. MEPRD grants are restricted to no more than 40% of the total cost, which local government must at least partially match.
Rosen said he already has received a separate grant from the Madison County Parks Commission, and has budgeted $20,0000 for the project. The city is also sending letters to local businesses requesting donations for a playground fund to be directed to the Highland Area Community Foundation.
If the grant application is successful, the playground will likely be constructed next spring with expected completion by June 2023. Rosen said he had hoped to have it installed in the fall, but is uncertain if that can be achieved.
