Construction is currently underway at the Springdale Park playground near Druid Hills, bringing a brand-new space for kids to learn and play to the neighborhood hopefully by the end of April.
The Springdale playground, which is part of Olmsted Linear Park, has been in the works for a renovation since 2022 when constituents told the Olmsted Linear Park Association (OLPA) the playground was “boring.”
“The equipment that was there before was outdated. Some of it was broken,” Sandra Kruger, the Executive Director of OLPA, told Rough Draft. “The playground was plagued by storm water flooding. So, we had to address storm water flooding issues and upgrade the storm water infrastructure.”
The project is not just a refresh; it’s a complete overhaul. The new playground will include a nest swing, a climbing sphere, musical flowers, a seesaw, and a carousel – all brand-new structures – as well as a new version of the beloved spinning saucer.
“We upgraded all the play equipment to current, innovative, and accessible pieces that are all-inclusive,” Kruger said. “Children of all ages with all abilities can enjoy the playground.”
Play structures are not the only additions being made to the space. The playground update is part of a multi-faceted improvement project to the park that started last August and includes new landscaping with pollinating plants and trees – almost 75 of which have been planted in the last two months of the project.
Kruger says OLPA hopes to open the playground to the public with a ribbon cutting ceremony at the end of April.