'West End' Park renovation plans unveiled

The Carrington Area Healthy Communities Coalition, in partnership with the Carrington Park Board, has decided to initiate a renovation project at the so-called "West End Park."

Brand-new playground equipment, which will be compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), along with a single-stall, unisex restroom, will be installed at the park, which is located at the corner of 15th Ave. North and 2nd St. North, and does not have an official name.

Michele Seil, who is the chair of the Healthy Communities Coalition, said that the cost of the project has been tabulated at $243,309.

Of that price figure, $153,024 is earmarked for playground equipment and delivery, $33,285 for installation, $12,000 for site preparation and $45,000 for the restroom facilities.

Seil says that the current state of the West End Park, and its lack of usage, meant that something had to be done.

"Essentially, the current playground equipment is old, not in good shape, and does not meet ADA compliance," Seil said. "The park is not being used, so of course, we want to increase use."

In February, coalition members presented plans for the renovation to the Carrington Park Board, and received unanimous approval to apply for grants and start the project.

As part of the project, there will be a naming contest to give the park an official moniker, and provide community members a sense of ownership in the new facility.

Why renovation?

Seil says that travel for children on that side of town to the Courthouse Park, and particularly City Park, is a long way to walk or ride bike, and getting there often involves crossing railroad tracks or Highway 281.

In a description of the project provided to the Independent, one of the main motivating factors for the renovation was the loss of the old elementary playground when the school was razed in 2018.

"The [elementary] playground equipment was often used by children and families who live in the center and south sides of town, as it was the closest playground," the description reads. "These families must now use the renovated Courthouse Park, or this outdated park on the west side of town."

Owing to economic factors, kids on the west side tend not to have easy transportation to the City or Courthouse parks.

Results of the 2021 Community Health Needs Assessment, conducted by CHI St. Alexius Health Carrington Medical Center and Foster County Public Health, showed that the West End Park's renovation was one of the steps integral to attracting and retaining young families in the area.

In addition, results compiled by the Carrington Area Chamber of Commerce's five-year strategic plan showed that 46 percent of adults indicated that youth recreation and wellness infrastructure was deemed "extremely important", with another 34 percent saying it was "important" to them.

The project committee does not know the exact date when the current equipment at the park was installed, but individual members recall playing on the swings back when they were kids, 40 years or more ago in some cases.

In community focus group discussions cited in the description, there is a stated desire to bring equipment to the park that provides outdoor exercise and challenges for older children, as the Courthouse and City Park's amenities are geared towards preschool and early elementary children.

What's new?

Features of the renovated West End Park include a climbing structure and zipline, along with the traditional swings and slides. The basketball court and picnic shelter will remain.

The new design will keep the playground equipment contained in one area, to make maintenance easier, and the construction of the restroom will also be a benefit to park-goers.

"Simply adding a bathroom will further encourage use of the playground," Seil said. "There are no businesses on that end of town that are accessible for bathroom use, which can be a difficult problem for families with small children."

Construction work on the restroom facilities, according to Seil, has a target completion date of summer 2023.

Structural equipment to be installed carries a 100-year warranty, plastic components 15 years, and cables five years, and is made from recyclable materials manufactured by renewable energy sources.

How to pay for the project

Grant funding Healthy Communities is pursuing includes:

• Burke and Grondahl Recreation grant, $38,296

• Garrison Diversion, $60,000

• North Dakota Heritage Fund, $95,000

• Northern Plains Operation Round-Up, $2,500

• Carrington Community Endowment Fund, $10,000

• BCBS Caring for Communities Grant, $5,000

Current donations received to date are $520, from a small bake sale fund-raiser held in November.

"Right now, our primary efforts to raise funds are writing grants," Seil said. "We'll start looking for local financial donations as well as doing some fund-raising projects, and eventually, we'll be asking for some volunteers to help remove the old equipment."

If some grants are not received, the Carrington Community Connection grant program can provide the balance of funds up to $40,000 to ensure the project's completion.

"We had hoped to start in early summer, but some of the grants will not be rewarded – should we receive them – until mid-July," Seil explained. "I hope that we will have the funds so that the project will be installed in the fall."

More information on the West End Park renovation project, along with the Carrington Area Healthy Communities Coalition, can be found on their Website, healthycarrington.org.

"Living a healthy lifestyle is one of the key components of the Healthy Communities Coalition's mission. Outdoor activities and enjoyment of playing in the outdoors are definitely a part of this," concluded Seil.