City busy working on new playground for Riverfront

By JAMES CLARK / Editor for the Southern Standard

City employees Charlie Furbee, left, and Josh Baker work on constructing the new playground equipment at Riverfront Park. The new playground could be complete by next week. (James Clark photo)

Construction is just swinging along for the new playground being built at Riverfront Park.

The new equipment, which will feature two swings and two slides, could be operational by the next week if work proceeds as planned.

“We bought something we could add to,” said Parks and Recreation director Carlene Brown. “This is just a start. It’s what we could afford with the money in our budget.”

The new equipment, with a pricetag of around $5,000, replaces a wooden structure which was torn down last month. That playground equipment had been used since Riverfront Park was first developed in 1985.

With warm weather already here, Riverfront Park has seen increased activity in recent weeks. The park is one starting point to the Barren Fork Greenway, and a boat ramp allows access to the Barren Fork River.

“The activity has increased so much since the greenway opened,” said Brown. “This playground will be a real asset to the park.”

In addition to the playground at Riverfront Park, equipment has arrived to construct a playground at Pistole Park. That equipment was paid for by the Warren County Youth Soccer Association and will be named Banerjee Station in honor of the late Ben Banerjee, one of this community’s foremost soccer enthusiasts.

Plans are to begin constructing Banerjee Station in June to ensure it’s ready by the start of soccer season. Brown says the playgrounds are a great way for children to spend quality time with their parents.

“Family time is what these kids need to help them make the right choices,” she said.