The Oxford Park playground is being replaced, as one of the Parks & Recreation Department’s 2021 Capital Improvement Program projects. In February, the department reached out to park neighbors and provided them the opportunity to complete a survey about the playground, including preferred equipment. Children were also given a worksheet for sharing their ideas on the playground. This input was used to develop three concepts that were then shared with the community in May, with residents invited to complete an online survey to select their favorite option and to provide additional input about the playground.
After these two phases of outreach, the design for the new playground has now been finalized. Looking forward, the old playground is scheduled for replacement beginning in August, with completion of the new playground anticipated this fall.
The City’s Certified Arborists performed an enhanced “level 2” aerial Tree Risk Qualification Inspection, to identify any safety issues with the park’s mature trees. The trees immediately surrounding the playground area – which are appreciated by park users for the shade they provide – are in good shape. However, this inspection determined that one of the trees located by the parking pull-off area for the park – a Sweetgum tree – is displaying signs of decay in its upper branches that pose a safety risk. As a result, the Parks & Forestry Division has plans to remove this tree. Later this fall or next spring, four new large-species trees will be planted at the park.
Funding for the Oxford Park playground includes a $10,640 Natureworks Grant from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.
The department wishes to thank the many residents who participated in this process. Once it is complete, we hope you enjoy your new Oxford Park playground for many years to come.
MAY 2021
The playground vendor for this project – Snider Recreation – developed three design options based on the community input received from the initial survey work undertaken in February. In the month of May, the City undertook a broader outreach effort seeking input from residents on these three options.
A total of 218 residents completed the second survey. Option C emerged as the preferred design, with Snider Recreation also taking the resident comments into consideration as they worked to finalize the playground design. Click here to view the survey results.
Below are the three design options shared with the community during this second phase of outreach.
FEBRUARY
Property owners within half a mile of Oxford Park were invited to complete online surveys relative to general design features for the new playground. The surveys were live February 16-March 16. Ten children completed the worksheet and 69 adults participated in the online survey. Below are some of the key findings:
- Survey respondents overwhelmingly ranked a Climbing Wall as the most important freestanding play feature with 62% of respondents. Other responses include See Saw (28%) and Spring Rider (20%)
- Toddler Play ranked as the most important play activity (42%) followed closely by an Open Slide (41%). Other important play activities were Bridge (29%), Rope Climber (28%) and Tube Slide (23%).
- Belt Swings (57%), a Saucer Swing (51%), and Toddler Swings (38%) were ranked most important.
- Several open-ended comments indicated that Monkey Bars, Swings and Slides are the best part of the existing playground. Comments also indicated that separate play areas for older and younger kids are important as are the trees, shade and open green space.
- Flooding and traffic were the least favorite parts of the park. Several respondents indicated that the current playground was geared too much toward younger kids. Some also suggested the need for path connections to McCoy and Edgehill Drive.
PROJECT TIMELINE
March: First Survey – Completed March 16
May: Second Survey with Design Options
June: Final Design
August: Demolition of Existing Playground
November: New Playground Complete
ASSOCIATED DOCUMENTS
To view documents associated with the project, search our Archives Portal – Parks Project using the Oxford Park Playground project name.