Future of 7th Ward Playground discussed
Holly Tonini/Observer-Reporter
From left, Braedon Greenleaf, 13, Katie Grabiak, 12, Vernon Walters, 17, and Jess Ashmore, 18, move mulch during the cleanup of Seventh Ward Playground.
Holly Tonini/Observer-Reporter
From left, Aubrey Buchanan, 15, and Izabelle Garrety, 13, both from Washington Alliance Church, rake playground-safe mulch around a teeter-totter.
A volunteer organizer who helped clean up the 7th Ward Playground last month, attended the Washington council meeting Monday to talk about the future of the park.
“The dream is to be able to attract funding for new equipment and create some programming moving forward,” said Aaron Miller, an associate pastor at Life Church and leader of The Dreamers Company. “I think the park should be open.”
Miller organized youth volunteers to put new mulch down at the playground. His group, along with several community partners involved in Mission Washington, cleaned up the park with new benches, picnic tables, lighting, play equipment and paint. They also trimmed trees and cleared brush, making it easier for patrol officers to see in the park at night.
However, the park is still closed. Council voted to temporarily close the park July 12, after several nearby residents complained about a large group of children who were congregating in the park at night and destroying park property and private property of the surrounding neighbors.
Washington police Chief Robert Wilson said between May and July, his department received 14 calls for disturbances at the playground. Since closing it last month, they’ve only received two calls, he said Monday.
Mayor Scott Putnam said it was never the intent of council to permanently close the playground or tear it down, but to temporarily close it, giving the city an opportunity to take better control of the activity happening there.
“I just want to personally thank you and your group for all the work you’ve put into the 7th Ward Playground,” Putnam said to Miller.
Miller suggested the city put a locked gate on the entrance to the playground on School Avenue, so there will only be one entrance to the park.
“I think the park should be welcoming, but a gate on School Avenue would be helpful,” he said.
Miller shared with council some concerns and suggestions from community members that came from a July 21 meeting in the park. He said the concerns people listed included drug and gang activity, racism, security and vandalism. Some of the improvements residents wanted to see included basketball hoops, yard games, pickleball, additional trash cans, artwork displays, block parties and community involvement.
“The 7th Ward Playground is really the gem playground of the city,” Miller said. “I think people are very excited about the playground and where things are now.”
Miller said he is organizing a “stakeholders meeting,” Sept. 5, with several community organizations to discuss mentorship and programming opportunities and other “solutions for our playgrounds.”
“I think a lot of these organizations have done things in the park previously, and I think having a common story gives us a common starting point,” Miller said. “There has to be a collaboration approach to funding.”