LAKE STEVENS, Wash. — The City of Lake Stevens Parks and Recreation Department is closing five playgrounds starting Wednesday for repairs, the city said in a release.
Four of these playgrounds will be removed. The other one will need significant repairs before reopening.
Several other playgrounds also need repairs but will stay open to the public.
Most of the playgrounds needing repair are 15-to-22 years old and are smaller in size and located in residential neighborhoods.
The closed playgrounds will have temporary orange fencing installed and signs posted to let the public know if it will be removed or repaired.
One playground was recently installed in 2020 at Oak Hill Park, known as The Timbers. The playground is not designed for installation in a public park, even though it is advertised as commercial grade. The park has structural issues, which may be due to installation or the manufacturing process. Play elements are designed too close together and the structure does not meet ADA Accessibility Standards, according to the release.
“It is always a tough decision to shut down a playground, especially several of them at the same time,” said Parks and Recreation Director Sarah Garceau. “Children’s safety is extremely important, and these playgrounds do not meet standards.”
All city playgrounds are now scheduled for regular inspections to ensure they remain in good condition
The city said there are things families can do to keep kids safe while enjoying playgrounds.
Adults should check the playground and report anything that is loose or needs repair. While playing on playgrounds, children should never wear bike helmets, hoodies, or other clothing pieces with strings. Adults should also make sure that their children are only playing on playgrounds that are designed for their age group.
There will be a public meeting in the Sawyers Room at The Mill on Thursday, March 2 at 6 p.m. to discuss playgrounds.
“This will be the first of many public meetings scheduled to discuss the City’s parks and ensure that the recreational needs of our community are met. The Parks Department encourages all community members to attend meetings or watch them on YouTube if they can’t attend in person,” the city said in its release.
For questions, email parks@lakestevenswa.gov or call 425-622-9403.
The city gave a list of playgrounds with their status: