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Playground at Ives Park in Potsdam nears construction phase

Posted 7/19/17

By CRAIG FREILICH POTSDAM – The village’s plan for a playground at Ives Park is about to move to the construction phase. The “Play Space,” to be near the south end of the riverside park, will …

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Playground at Ives Park in Potsdam nears construction phase

Posted

By CRAIG FREILICH

POTSDAM – The village’s plan for a playground at Ives Park is about to move to the construction phase.

The “Play Space,” to be near the south end of the riverside park, will consist of a six-foot high sodded mound with an embankment slide, a culvert tunnel, a five-foot high climbing wall, a tandem rope climb, and stone steps up one side. There will be monkey bars and a “jump stumps.”

The work is expected to begin this summer and be completed in the spring.

Potsdam contractor Jim Sheehan will build and sculpt the mound, and help order the culvert for the tunnel, according to Rise Rivezzi, chair of the joint town and village Recreation Committee. A snow fence will be put up around the mound while it settles.

A search is on for cedar logs for the monkey bars, which will have metal rods, and for the jumping stumps and balance beam. They are also seeking about 15 flat stones that have a total riser height of six to eight inches.

Depending on ground conditions, this fall or early next spring trenches and post holes will be dug for the features. Soil will be dug for nine inches of playground mulch, and the slide, stone steps, the rope climb and plantings will be placed.

The space is expected to be low-maintenance.

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Sketch by Miranda Brosell.

Rivezzi says they are looking for four-foot-long or longer cedar logs. Beyond that, they would like to provide signs with rules for play, and a forged metal tapering fence with a “welcome” portal on the river side of the project.

“This could be an amazing art installation to go with the play area that could include animal and plant designs in the fencing,” Rivezzi said.

A bike rack is also sought.

Volunteers will be doing most of the work.

Tax deductible donations will be welcome. Northern NY Community Foundation will administer the funds, so checks should be made out to them, with Ives Park Play Space written in the memo line; and send checks to NNYCF, 131 Washington St., Watertown, NY 13601. They will send an acknowledgement of the gift for tax purposes.