In September 2020 there was a large explosion and fire at Veterans Park. The playground equipment there was primarily built out of recycled plastic decking and the playground was burnt to the ground.
Parks Administrator Tim Farmer said the Chula Vista Police Department is still investigating it, but from what has been gathered so far it is a suspected arson. The fire caused about $80,000 damage to the playground, burned a palm tree, and demolition of the area cost about another $30,000, said Farmer.
On Feb. 11, the City revealed the new playground with the first assessable net climber with a slide in the nation, created by Game Time Playologist.
Game Time Playologist and Regional Sales Rep KJ LeCesne said Game Time has been in business developing play spaces since 1929. The GT Wave is its newest innovation. He said the key to accessibility is the transfer platform on the structure, making it assessable for kids to transfer out of their mobility devices and a slip resistant textured path to the slide creating access to children of all capabilities.
“Thursday, when I was out there, I got to see younger kids that would not be able to use the structure easily use that path making it easier for them to get to the slide as well,” said LeCesne.
LeCesne said he was already working with Chula Vista when they reached out to him with the unfortunate news about Veterans Park. He said the structure was already made, in its warehouse and that they were able to give it at a discounted rate.
“We have a couple of swings and some free standing equipment, but the net climber is the center focus of the play space,” he said. “This GT Wave is the first one in the country, and hopefully many more to follow to reach more kids in need in the country.”
Farmer said there are not a lot of net climbers in the city and that with his own children, he saw that current designs did not allow the freedom of play that he thought children should have.
“I want kids to be able to think outside of the box and use their imaginations and kind of grow in their risks taking ability,” said Farmer. “We wanted more than just one single path of play for the kids so that is why I really like these designs like the net climbers. You give kids unlimited options on how they play.”
Farmer said the city had already been talking about more inclusive playgrounds, so when he saw the design of the GT Wave, it was unique, and liked the fact that it was the first of its kind.
“We built it there, put a rubber ramp around it so it is even more easily assessable for wheelchair users,” he said. “We are really excited about kids that normally can not playground in a park like that has the opportunity now to do so.”
The total cost of the playground equipment was $120,000. This was funded with a little more than $80,000 by the insurance clam and the remainder came from Measure P, the City’s half-cent sales tax for infrastructure needs.
Total project cost was just over $120,000, a little over $80,000 was the insurance replacement and the remainder came from Measure P.
