A real-life, playable version of the Chutes and Ladders board game highlights one of the new features at the recently reopened West Fenwick Park in Kent.
The new playground is designed to allow children and adults to play the board game as they interact with elements in the playground. The equipment also features multiple swing bays with a variety of swings for users of all ages.
The popular park at 3808 S. Reith Road, just east of Interstate 5, reopened April 23. Work began last summer on the renovation.
“While most of the major facilities will be available, the central lawn area will remain fenced and closed to the public until mid-summer to allow for grass establishment,” Mayor Dana Ralph said in her weekly update last week.
The City Council approved a $3.16 million bid by Terra Dynamics, Inc., of Algona, in June to renovate the park. The city used revenue from the B&O tax and real estate excise tax (on real estate sales) to pay for most of the project.
Crews removed the existing grass and much of the soil on the main park lawn to install an underground drainage and storm water system, a new irrigation system and brought in new soils for an improved lawn that will be ready this summer. New sod has been installed for the lawn that will be about the size of a football field but available for many open field uses.
A new artificial turf field on the northwest end of the park is available for smaller-scale soccer games (known as futsal) and other field sports. The field will be 70 feet by 100 feet and fenced. A $75,000 King County Youth and Amateur sports grant helped pay for the field.
Other improvements include a covered shelter with tables and outdoor grills, pathway lighting and accessibility upgrades.
A King County grant of $200,000 went towards the chutes and ladders playground.
The park also features a basketball court, tennis courts and restrooms.
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Benches and bike racks built for court-side spectators. CAMERON SHEPPARD, Sound Publishing
Artificial turf soccer field with fenced-in boundaries. CAMERON SHEPPARD, Sound Publishing
Artificial turf soccer field with fenced-in boundaries. CAMERON SHEPPARD, Sound Publishing
