<\/p>\n
After an emotional discussion, the Dolores Town Board voted unanimously Monday to immediately close the popular playground at Joe Rowell Park, citing safety concerns.<\/p>\n
\u201cFrom far away, it looks good, but when you get a closer look it is scary,\u201d said Dolores Mayor Santiago Lopez.<\/p>\n
During a board tour of the 16-year old playground, maintenance supervisor Randy McGuire expressed concerns about the playground structure, including unstable support posts, damaged wood, split beams and splinters.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe wood grain is separating, and the posts are rotting underground,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
McGuire said keeping up with maintenance has been a challenge because the wood materials used to build the playground are not holding up in the weather.<\/p>\n
\u201cA lot of it needs replaced,\u201d he said. \u201cWe\u2019ve been doing regular repairs for years, but there is only so much you can do. In my mind, it is hazardous.\u201d<\/p>\n
Town Manager Lana Hancock said the town\u2019s insurance company has also expressed safety concerns, and town attorney Mike Green said the playground\u2019s deteriorated state is a potential liability risk to the town.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t want to see any kid get hurt,\u201d said board member Izzy Boyce.<\/p>\n
Parent Molly Cooper, who regularly takes her kids to the playground,urged the board to table the matter to allow time for a solution and to gather more community input.<\/p>\n
A recently formed group called Save Our Playground is meeting at 6 p.m. on Sept. 28 at the Dolores River Campground to address the issue.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat is the harm in waiting two weeks before making a decision so others can be a part of the conversation?\u201d she said. \u201cI don\u2019t feel there is an immediate need to close it down. Working with the community, I believe, we can find a solution.\u201d<\/p>\n
The board clearly struggled with the decision. Some initially said they needed more time and information and did not see the problems as an immediate threat.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019d like to know how other communities with similar playgrounds dealt with maintenance issues,\u201d said board member Tracy Murphy.<\/p>\n
But after hearing safety concerns from town staff, the board became convinced that closing the playground was necessary.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a heart-wrenching decision,\u201d said Lopez. \u201cIt is a proactive stance to protect the children.\u201d<\/p>\n
The town board expressed general support for having some sort of playground in Joe Rowell Park, but wanted to look into the cost of repairing the current one or replacing it.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe need to make a commitment to correct the problems or replace it as soon as possible,\u201d said Murphy.<\/p>\n
The playground was built in 2001 as a memorial to Ron Kotarski. It was funded in part by a $100,000 grant from Great Outdoors Colorado, and built with the help of community members over several days.<\/p>\n
\u201cPlease don\u2019t demolish it without a plan for a new one because there is enough support in the community to save the playground,\u201d Cooper said.<\/p>\n
In the next few days, the town plans to close the playground off by surrounding it with a chain-link fence.<\/p>\n
The future of the playground will also be a topic at the Dolores Town Board workshop at 6:30 p.m. on Sept. 25.<\/p>\n