A beloved playground in Homewood will reopen at the end of the month afterreopen this month after a nearly $1 million makeover. The City of Homewood approved the upgrades to its largest park, Central Park, located at 1632 Oxmoor Road, in its 2024 budget. The figure includes removal of old equipment and mulch and the addition of ADA-compliant artificial turf, new play structures, and—praise hands!—shade. Rusty Holley, Homewood Parks and Recreation Superintendent, says that it was important for the city to make the playground accessible to everyone.
The list of new amenities includes:
- Ninja course meant to be enjoyed by kids and parents
- New swings and slides
- ADA-compliant play structures for all ages
- GaGa ball pit
- Shaded areas
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PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY OF CITY OF HOMEWOOD
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The new turf, called playground grass, is also accessible for wheelchairs and individuals on crutches. The turf helps maintain clean playing surfaces—no loose fill, less dirt—and features built-in antistatic technology and antimicrobial properties. It also encourages safer, less restricted play due to its safe and durable surface. Plus, it was created specifically for kids.
The Central Park playground has been closed since mid-January, when construction began on the new space; the rest of the park has remained opened, and the project is still expected to be complete and ready for new memories by April 1. The improved playground will also feature a new, open, centralized entry (without a gate) that flows into the rest of the park, which includes a large green space, six pavilions with picnic tables, tennis courts, walking paths, an amphitheater, and adjacent outdoor pool.
Bugsy—the well-loved red metal climbing caterpillar—won’t make the cut at the new playground, but children of the eighties can rest easy, as he’ll be permanently installed somewhere nearby as a nod to the past and the future. The City of Homewood notes on its website that, “Bugsy the caterpillar, our beloved character at Central Park, is being well taken care of and will be brought back soon in a way that highlights the significance of this iconic landmark to the park and its visitors! Bugsy’s current adventure reminds us that even the smallest creatures can make a big impact. He won’t be a nostalgic memory; instead, he will be a symbol of longevity for generations to come in Homewood.”