Photo by Adam Brimer

Camryn Randolph tries out the new playground at World’s Fair Park. Joe Walsh, the city’s director of parks and recreation, said the playground isn’t intended to replace nearby Fort Kid, although the 18-year-old all-wooden structure will be slowly phased out over time as it wears out.

The children waited just long enough to help cut the ribbon and pause for a photo with city officials at the official opening Wednesday of the new playground at World's Fair Park, before making a mad dash to put the new jungle gym to good use.

Well, right after they gave the scissors back.

Located on the north lawn of the park near the already-popular water fountains, the $130,000 city of Knoxville project is largely the product of children's suggestions, as well as input from their physical education teachers at Sterchi, West Haven, and Dogwood elementary schools, and Sarah Moore Greene Magnet Technology Academy, said Joe Walsh, the city's director of parks and recreation.

"We really wanted to include the kids because they're the ones who are going to be using this playground," he said.

The students' votes for their favorite playground features were then incorporated into the design, handled by Kidz Zone Play Systems of Murfreesboro, Tenn.

The enthusiasm of the more than 40 children, ages 6-12, on hand Wednesday from the city's summer programs at West Haven and Inskip-Norwood recreation centers, offered quick confirmation that the designers got it right.

The 4,150-square-foot area includes a climbing wall, multiple slides, a tire swing, track sliders and a neutron spinner, all mounted on a rubberized floor surface.

World's Fair Park

1060 Worlds Fair Park Drive
Knoxville, TN

Visitors to Knoxville may find it strange that the city hosted the 1982 World’s Fair. After all, the fair has been held in cities like New York, London, Tokyo, Amsterdam and Rome. Nonetheless, in 1982, over the course of six ...

More about World's Fair Park »

Kathleen Gibi, with the city's Parks and Recreation Department, also noted that the physical education teachers recommended that the playground specifically include components geared toward upper body strength.

Walsh was quick to emphasize that the playground isn't necessarily intended to replace the 18-year-old Fort Kid nearby, although the "antiquated," all-wooden structure will be slowly phased out over time as major components wear out.

"We couldn't build that today," he said, explaining that Fort Kid has become too costly to maintain and it does not meet modern accessibility standards. "We'll still try to take care of it, without putting a lot of money into it."

Tracie Kercher, whose 5-year-old son, Andrew, was among the crowd, said Fort Kid is still plenty popular, although its "nooks 'n crannies" can make it difficult to to keep track of a child.

"I think parents will like this one better," she said, "because you can see them."

Hayes Hickman may be reached at 865-342-6323.

© 2009, Knoxville News Sentinel
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