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Swain County recreation director warns two playgrounds fail inspection; commissioners weigh repairs and budgets
Summary
Swain County recreation staff reported two playgrounds failed a recent safety inspection and recommended removal of some structures. Commissioners discussed temporary fixes, a $35,000 allotment already set aside, vendor quotes (one vendor quoted ~$382,000 full replacement), and options to reduce cost by county labor and staged work.
Taylor, the county recreation director, told the board that two playgrounds — the “fun place” in front of the pool and the Alarka playground — did not pass a recent safety inspection and that the inspector recommended removing unsafe equipment immediately. She said the inspector sent written recommendations late in the afternoon and will reinspect at the end of the summer.
Taylor described visible hazards: cracked steps, broken platforms and slides that do not meet fall-height standards. She and staff proposed temporary, short-term repairs at the fun-place site while planning a full replacement before year’s end. Taylor said the department can lower costs by doing some installation work in-house and reducing the amount of poured-in-place surfacing to a six-foot perimeter standard, rather than redoing the entire surface.
Commissioners reviewed cost estimates during the work session. Taylor said a composite playground option for one site would cost about $56,000; she also presented a vendor quote for a full replacement in the county’s higher-cost estimate range (discussed in the session as roughly $382,000) and said performing some installation labor internally could lower that figure substantially. She noted the department previously set aside $35,000 in this budget year that could be used toward the Alarka playground and asked the board to proceed with ordering and prioritized repairs for the site that was promised funding.
Several commissioners urged the county to move forward with the funds that were previously allocated for Alarka so the community sees progress. Others emphasized ensuring the ordered equipment meets ADA accessibility; Taylor cautioned that adding ADA-compliant elements can raise costs (she estimated accessibility features could increase a small playground price from around $12,000 to roughly $30,000). The board directed Taylor to explore options that keep costs down — including in-house labor, staged work and solicitation of donations or sponsorships — and to return with firm bids and a proposed schedule. One commissioner said the department should order equipment by Friday to meet vendor lead times (stated as 12–14 weeks).
The board did not take a formal vote on a purchase during the work session; commissioners agreed to proceed administratively with the already-appropriated $35,000 and to consider any additional funds during upcoming budget discussions.
