Othello nears completion of Iron Horse Playground, accepts award

OTHELLO — Monday’s Othello City Council meeting featured recognition from playground manufacturer and researcher PlayCore for the city’s nearly completed Iron Horse Playground in Lions Park, as well as an update on grant applications for several future park projects. 

Othello Mayor Shawn Logan introduced the PlayCore award, which adds the playground to PlayCore’s registry of National Demonstration Sites.

“The city of Othello playground has been recognized as a project of excellence that aligns with (PlayCore’s) evidence-based, design-based practices that meet the criteria to become a PlayCore National Demonstration Site,” Logan said.

According to PlayCore’s website, National Demonstration Sites are spaces “designed to embrace inclusive play, youth fitness, adult fitness and/or nature play utilizing best practices and designs established by scholars and experts in their respective fields.” The playground was designed with individuals with disabilities, mobility issues and other limiting factors in mind. 

Logan presented the award to Othello Public Works Director Curt Carpenter.

“Curt Carpenter … has received national recognition for this new playground that he helped create and design,” Logan said. “Although it's not finished, it will be very soon.”

Carpenter thanked the council and everybody involved in the project, including city staff, the playground designers — Wildwood Playgrounds — and the council.

“It's going to be quite a facility,” Carpenter said. “This is one of the largest all-inclusive playgrounds in Washington and in the U.S. It's a phenomenal playground for this area and I’m excited for the citizens to get to use it as much as they’re excited to get to play on it.”

Progress on the playground’s construction is nearing completion, Carpenter said, with the playground’s rubber surfacing a factor in the playground still being worked on.

“That surface requires 40 degrees and above temperatures,” Carpenter said. “That's one of the reasons they haven't been here yet; we haven't reached those consistent temperatures. Within a week or so we should be able to reach those temperatures. We are shooting for sometime in May, weather permitting, having the opening ceremonies and ribbon cutting for the playground and the basketball courts.”

After discussing Iron Horse Playground, the council also unanimously accepted a Washington State Department of Transportation grant for $910,000 – with no matching requirement for the city — to construct a community trail along State Route 26.

According to the agenda memo, the trail would provide a length of walking and biking area at the south edge of town, north of S.R. 26 and south of Sandstone Street. 

“There will be a 14-foot wide asphalt trail with shade trees and landscaping designed to provide an experience around every bend,” the memo stated. “There will be six bench areas designed to provide rest and socializing. Lighting will be integrated providing safety and ambiance. The trail will provide both recreation and transportation for the community. This trail is just the start of a larger trail to connect major destinations along S.R. 26.”

The council also unanimously approved city staff to apply for three grants through the Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office. 

According to the agenda memo, a Land and Water Conservation Fund grant would be combined with a Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program grant to build a new playground and renovate the north parking lot of Kiwanis Park for a total cost of $1,200,000, including a 10% match of $120,000 from the city.

The other grant is a Youth Athletic Facilities grant for $350,000 with a 10% match of $35,000 from the city, which would be used to replace the Kiwanis Park basketball court with three new courts and lighting, one of which would be a smaller, all-inclusive court. 

Gabriel Davis may be reached at gdavis@columbiabasinherald.com.

    Othello Mayor Shawn Logan, left, presents the PlayCore award designating Othello’s Iron Horse Playground as a National Demonstration Site to Othello Public Works Director Curt Carpenter, right, during Monday’s Othello City Council meeting.
  

    The north side of the Iron Horse Playground is surrounded by a walking path in the middle of Othello’s Lions Park. Othello Public Works Director Curt Carpenter said the city is shooting for a May unveiling of the new playground and basketball courts.