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Playground's Rough Draft Unveiled
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Proposed design for Chapel Rock Christian Church.
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(posted May 16)
The children's ideas are now in schematic design for the proposed community
playground they would like to see across the street from Chapel Rock Christian
Church, located at 2020 N Girls School Rd.
Over 100 kids contributed ideas to the future playground that will be located at the Ben Davis Sports Complex. Sisters Halee and Emilee Smith submitted ideas of a race car and an ocean. Besides the church's youth offering ideas, the architect tapped into the imaginations from Chapel Wood Elementary students.
Dennis Willie of Leathers & Associates said the church is now at the
starting point since the ideas are now in schematic form. Leathers &
Associates is the architect firm hired to design the playground. He presented
the ideas he gathered to the church and community at the May 13 meeting.
He said that Boomer from the Pacers attended one of the children's brainstorming
sessions.
Racing is one theme that will be seen on the playground, but the ideas
of a hot tub, roller coaster and hamster wheel were nixed. Other ideas
that were retained include a high suspension bridge, log roll, fireman's
pull, ramp, wide slide, obstacle course, and bouncing bridge. The toddler's
section will include swings, slides and a garden. Willie explained the
9,000 to 10,000 square foot playground will have a rubber surface to assist
disabled children with mobility. Another special feature will be the sports
mural to honor local professional teams. The mural will be in lieu of the
children's suggestion of playing sports at the playground.
The parking lot is designed specifically for children's safety, including
separate entrance and exit points with a one way traffic flow. He said
a wall will divide the playground from the parking lot to prevent kids
from darting directly into the path of a moving car.
The rough draft will now go to the committee to hash out the details, so
a final design can be drafted.
Dale Deem, church member, said this is more than a church initiative, it
is an outreach to make this a community playground. Deem explained that
the plan is to involve other congregations with project development. He
emphasized that it is not a Chapel Rock Christian Playground. He said he
has been in discussions with Covenant High School, located just west of
the church, and they are wanting to build an area for lacrosse and softball
fields. He said the playground would be in the middle of lacrosse fields
and the Ben Davis Youth Organization.
Deem intends make a presentation to the White River Park State Commission
to make sure the commissioners are aware of how the land is being used.
The land is currently being leased from the commission for the Ben Davis
Youth Sports Complex to offer football, soccer and baseball to the area
youth. The playground would supplement the activities for more youth to
be involved.
In March, Ben Davis Cadet Football Association President Jason McKinney expressed a concern about the commission's idea to sell 30 acres of the Ben Davis Youth Sports Complex.
Deem thinks the commission has changed its mind since March about selling for commercial development part of the 113 acres it owns at the southwest corner of 21st Street and Girl School Road.
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