Fix Is In For Dream Playground Surface

Kenosha---When it comes to rebuilding the surface of the Dream Playground, it’s more important to get it done right than do it quickly. That’s the message city officials continue to send.

A pair of city council committees unanimously recommended approval Monday night of a $650,000  contract for a suburban Milwaukee company to replace the spongy rubber surface of the handicapped accessible playground. The new play area was closed last March because of premature wear and tear, and because the floor failed to meet some safety standards.

At the Monday meeting, Public Works Committee Chair Dave Bogdala received assurances from city staff that the replacement work will be closely monitored. "We need to do all we can to get this up and running so kids can be out there and enjoying it as it was intended," he said. "And we're going to make sure that it's done right." 

No one--not even Mayor Antaramian who was monitoring the discussion in the back of the room--offered a timetable on when the playground might reopen. 

The city will be paying for extra testing as the new floor is rolled out and also has retained an independent expert in the field to issue advice when needed. In addition, the city will be paying extra to cover the costs of an alternate bid that's designed to extend the life of the replacement surface.

City officials believe the original problems stem from faulty installation, but Bogdala pointed out that the details haven't been shared. "Nobody can still answer the question of who's responsible and who is being held accountable," he said.

City officials hope to recoup all or at least a portion of the added expense of replacing the floor by reaching a settlement with the original contractor, or as a last resort, going to court.

In a somewhat related story, city officials said Monday that they're waiting for the contractor who rebuilt the velodrome to respond to a city proposal that's designed to get the bike track reopened.  Problems with the concrete surface have delayed the track's opening.  

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