By COLE REIF
Great Bend Post
The My Backyard Playground on at the Great Bend Recreation Commission’s Activity Center on 18th Street opened in December 2015. Closing in on nine years, the playground has undergone upgrades, most notably the recent Ninja Course and rock wall.
Rec Executive Director Chris Umphres said over time the rubber pad playing surface has needed repairs.
"We've tried to have Athco come in and patch it," said Umphres. "They really did a good job, but the problem with putting the circle patches in there is it gives kids a chance to grab a hold of something. We're actually missing some circles. They get pulled up and moved."
The Great Bend Rec Board approved a bid from Athco to not exceed $20,000 to resurface the existing rubber pad. Umphres said the additional half inch of surfacing will also increase the fall height for safety precautions.
"We'll get that on the schedule," said Umphres. "Hopefully, we can get that done before the winter sets in. We'll get that fixed up, and that will be kind of the last piece of that playground when we get the bathroom added to that."
The Rec is already in the process of getting bid specifications to construct a restroom facility on the southwest corner of the playground.