New pirate-themed playground coming to Matlacha Park
A new playground for the youngsters is currently being pieced together at Matlacha Park, which has an expected completion date of approximately three weeks.
Lee County Parks and Recreation accepted the bid from PlayMore Recreational Products and Services, which is located in Fort Myers. It is the same company that was used for the Phillips Park playground that was installed last year.
The funds used for this playground were allocated from the special projects fund.
The shipment was delivered Feb. 1 and the installation began Feb. 4.
Community Center site director Sue Slingerland said the theme of the new playground is a pirate’s ship, which the youngsters helped her pick out.
“The kids got to vote on it,” she said. “This is their park.”
The pirate’s ship playground includes such things as monkey bars, slides, a rope bridge, sails, a walking plank, as well as a wheel to steer the ship.
“They love the monkey bars,” Slingerland said, adding that she included things in the playground that she knew the kids enjoy using.
It also includes a treasure hunt panel, as well as other activities for the youngsters.
Slingerland said they will also have two bays of swings, so more kids can swing at the same time.
“We are just so happy,” she said of the new playground. “The kids are so excited.”
Slingerland said she thinks the pirate ship-themed playground is going to be really great for the kids, as well as for the community. She said it will receive a lot of use because of summer camp, every day after school care, as well as those who visit the park and rent the pavilion for parties.
Once the assembly is completed the playground area will be filled with play safe mulch.