New Play Gear Planned For A.M. Cannon Park

A.M. Cannon Park in the West Central neighborhood will be among the first in Spokane to receive playground upgrades that will make play equipment safer and accessible to people with handicaps.

After two years of planning and the putting aside of community development money, the equipment at A.M. Cannon Park will be in place by August, according to parks staff.

Other North Side parks, including Hays Park at Gordon and Crestline and Loma-Vista Park at Columbia and Alberta could also get new equipment, but there is no money yet set aside for such improvements.

Improvements at Shadle Park are being funded by the Spokane Public Library, which is building a new branch library on park property.

All new park play equipment must meet tougher safety and federal Disability Act standards.

In some places, that means the city may be spending as much for resurfacing of the play area as for the equipment itself.

New purchases at A.M. Cannon Park include a Big Toys unit, swings and three individual rocking units, which together will cost about $30,000. A rubberized surface will be put in place around the new equipment. The surface can accommodate wheelchairs and still provide cushioning for toddler falls.

The new playground surface will cost $23,768.

Taylor Bressler, parks maintenance director, said that type of surface will gradually be installed at parks throughout the city.

Lisa Samuels, a member of the West Central steering committee, said the neighborhood has made the park a priority and has earmarked community development money from both 1995 and 1996 for the new equipment.

Getting more parents to bring their toddlers to the parks is one way to deter gangs from hanging out. Keeping with that philosophy, the city will also install more park benches and shade trees near new playgrounds as well.

, DataTimes