By Bill Cleary
I stopped at the Ft. Nassau playground at the Johnson Boulevard Jogging Track today, Friday. Several residents have complained to me about the safety condition of the facility and I wanted to get a firsthand look.
I last visited the site in March when the Parks and Playgrounds workers began the project to demolish some of the Fort and re-build other sections of it.
The public is upset that some the sections of the Fort that were taken down in March are still laying on the sides of the facility. As for inside the Fort there is so much debris, some of it dangerous, (in some areas metal rods are sticking up through the ground). Paper and plastic bottles are thrown all about. The ground under the swings and in other areas is all un-even. A child running could easily trip and fall.
The photo appeared on ClearysNotebook last week. It was taken by a Concerned Parent. After that post appeared some of the items were taken away by the City I presume. But much still remains. see story
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I don\’t know what is taking so long? From what I understand the City was going to put up some play equipment and tear down the fence. The ground needs to be level, and new mulch or sand has to be spread about. Put the equipment in place and it should be finished. Apparently though there is more that needs to be done then I am aware of.
If I can be so bold to make a suggestion to those in charge, be it Mayor and Council or Street Superintendent James Johnson…..erect a sign reading (Danger Stay Out) or something like that and hang it at the entrance of the Fort. Also place some kind of barrier up at the front. Two- by- fours crisscrossed across the front with the sign.
If the Street Superintendent could spare a couple of men for an hour one day to get rid of the broken boards and old cement on the side of the Fort. Plus put up the barrier and sign I think it would help until the project is completed.
Don’t forget there are people who visit our community during the day and stop at the Fort. They are not aware of the changes the City intends to make. What they see are the deplorable conditions. They leave our community with the wrong impression.