Rec board says it’s unsafe

With a slide that is boarded off for holes in it, the playground at Stearns Park has been deemed unsafe for children.

The Polk County Board of Commissioners met Monday, Nov. 21 and decided to remove the equipment.

The Polk County Recreation Advisory Board unanimously agreed at its Nov. 2 meeting that the playground “is a danger to children.”

The recreation board recommended to commissioners that the Polk Fit Committee research the possibility of having volunteers install the playground equipment from the former Carolina Classical School that is now the Meeting Place Senior Center if the equipment is still usable.

“The board recommends removing the existing playground, due to safety and liability hazards, whether or not a new one can be obtained,” said recreation board chairman Jim Patterson in a letter to commissioners.

Polk County Manager Ryan Whitson said he agreed the Stearns playground equipment is unsafe and is a liability issue. Whitson recommended the maintenance department remove the equipment.