Copperfield Playground Q&A

Why Improve the Playground?

-Help our kids stay active and provide a neighborhood destination for families

-Boost our home values

-Bring our playground up to federal safety guidelines

            -Improve quality of life for families with children & grandchildren

What are the Advantages of this Type of Equipment & Design?

            -Commercial Grade Quality

                        -Extremely Durable & Long-Lasting

                                    -Steel/Aluminum post construction

                                    -Indefinite Life Expectancy

                        -Extremely Safe

-Design & Equipment meet highest industry & government standards (IPEMA & Consumer Products Safety Commission)

-Large Capacity (25 kids + at a time)

-Virtually maintenance free (7 year complete warranty)

-12” deep wood chips or double-chip mulch provides maximum safety

Who is the Manufacturer? Are they reputable?                      

The manufacturer is Gametime.  They have been in business over 75 years and come highly recommended.  The product line that is on sale is their best - "Powerscape plus." It features heavy gauge steel and a patented powerlock system that simplifies installation & reduces maintenance.  All products are  backed by a complete 7 year warranty.  Their website is www.gametime.com

What is our Target Age Range?

-5-12 years for play structure

-2-5 years for toddler swings (most toddlers will play on the play structure too)

What is our Total Project Cost?

Commercial grade equipment is an expensive product, as are the mulch & borders needed to raise the playground to federal safety standards.  Our total project cost will be $14,000-$15,000.  (For comparison, Dogwood Park cost $60,000).

What are We Doing to Save Money?

-Sale Prices:  By buying before November 15^th, we will save about $9,000

-Community Build: By installing with volunteer labor, we save $4,000-$5,000

-Public Funds – Expecting to receive $1,000 from LFUCG ($275 received thus far)

-Volunteer Surveyor – This will save us $600

-Corporate Sponsors:  We are looking into corporate sponsorships in exchange for

 recognition within the community.

What has the Neighborhood Association Contributed?

The neighborhood association pledge $2,000 a year for this plus the next 4 years.  Because this money comes gradually and not as a big chunk, we will use it for the equipment company’s “leasing” program.  This program offers financing with payments over 5 years, with a $1 buyout.  The lien is only against the equipment.  This gives us about $7,500 worth of buying power.

Did We Look into Grants?

-We did.  Unfortunately, most required a level of need that we did not meet.  There was one grant which we were eligible for, however it required that the park be accessible to the public.  Because this is a gray area in terms of the by-laws, it would have required a 2/3 vote of the community.  Given this fact and the limited funds of the grant, we decided not to pursue it.

What If People Have Questions or Ideas? 

See Basic information about the playground project

See Information about Corporate Sponsorship

If you have questions or ideas, please email us at playground@copperfieldlex.org