(4/23) Heritage Park Playground Takes Another Step Forward

The replacement of the smaller playground near the frisbee golf course at Heritage Farm Park has been in the works since early last year. The old equipment was 23 years old and needed to be removed because some of the parts to repair it are no longer available, leading to safety issues.

One hundred twenty thousand dollars of Project Open Space grant money will be used for the project and Commissioner Liaison Mary Ann Brodie-Ennis, who has been instrumental in the design of the new play space, asked what types of equipment the Parks Commission would like to see in the new play area.

One of Commissioner Ennis’s suggestions is to have a spinner, which is a modern style of merry go round. "Community Park has one and it’s very popular," she said. She also suggested more traditional equipment such as climbing walls, slides, and a quad seesaw where four children can play at the same time.

Other suggestions included music pieces, a sensory wall, and, possibly, a scavenger hunt. They are planning to install ramps instead of stairs to allow wheelchair access and will have a poured-in-place surface that is also wheelchair friendly. The swing set is the only piece of the old equipment that will remain.

According to Ennis, two companies have made bids to construct the playground: Miracle Play and Playground Specialist. Kelly Woods of the Parks Maintenance staff asked the Commission to consider not using Miracle Play for this playground because of the work they did with the Community Park playground.

"Stuff that was supposed to be covered wasn’t and the representatives are a challenge to deal with," he said. He was a fan of Playground Specialist because the equipment has a track record of lasting a long time even though it may cost more initially. The next step involves Ennis reaching out to bidding companies to get quotes with the suggested equipment.

Girl Scouts Slingshot Course Shot Down

Two members of a local Girl Scout troop presented the idea of installing a slingshot range in Community Park for their Silver Award. The girls said they usually visit Brighton Woods for their slingshot trips, which is about 45 minutes away, and would like a closer location to practice.

The target would be an eight-by-eight sheet of plywood facing the train tracks in the open field to the left of the playground and basketball hoops. The Girl Scouts would use biodegradable clay pellets and bring their slingshots with them on each visit.

Ennis said she spoke with the Town Manager and the Town’s insurance provider and they had concerns specifically regarding safety and liability at a busy community park. Besides the chance of hitting a person or damaging property, the target would be stationary and leaving it up could be a liability. The insurance company mentioned any groups using the targets would need to provide their own insurance.

Ennis also suggested the watershed as a location for the range, but the Town already has an agreement with the Boy Scouts who maintain the area they use and they may or may not allow the targets there. After discussion, the Commission determined the project needs more discussion with the Town Planner, Staff and Burgess, and Commissioners.

Council Supports Route 194 Project

Burgess Chad W Weddle read a letter of support of the Route 194 project written at the request of Frederick County. The letter, signed by Weddle was sent to the Secretary of the Department of Transportation to help the project gain additional funding from the state for the design and construction of the project as there is no current funding available. If funding can be obtained the project will be a State Highways project, not a county project.

The improvement project is being considered to resolve and improve safety issues as well as capacity concerns in both directions of Route 194 from MD 26 to Devilbiss Bridge Road. The road will be widened by adding a lane in both north and south directions with a divided median as well as turn lanes. Also planned are six-foot bike lanes, ADA compliant sidewalks and pedestrian crossings. Some utility lines will need to be relocated and drainage will be improved.

Transportation Engineering Supervisor Mark Mishler of the Division of Planning and Permitting in Frederick said the project isn't something to expect this year due to the lack of funding.