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The City of Mountlake Terrace announced this week that aging playgrounds near Terrace Creek Park and Ballinger Playfield have been closed after both of them failed safety inspections. The playgrounds, which have served the community for more than 25 years, will be removed in the coming weeks, according to the City’s press release. The swings in both parks will remain in place.
The City had previously planned to remove the north playground near the Ballinger Park playfield after the construction of the Hazel Miller Universally Accessible Playground.
The City does not currently have funding to replace the Terrace Creek playground. Estimates for a new playground could exceed $750,000, depending on design and amenities, according to the City’s press release.
At the March 26 City Council meeting, Mountlake Terrace resident Kenneth Chilcoat said during public comments that the Terrace Creek Park, also known as Candy Cane Park, is where he, his wife and their 2-year-old daughter go almost everyday.
“It was kind of a huge punch in the gut, you know,” Chilcoat said. “Losing that playground was kind of like losing a neighbor, a neighbor that you really like.”
Following Chilcoate’s comment, City Councilmember Laura Sonmore responded to his concerns.
“I’d like to ask Council is if we can ask [City Manager Jeff Niten] to look into grants, and we’ll put out a statement about what we’re doing with the parks because we do care,” Sonmore said. “We know how you feel, I grew up with that [Terrace Creek] park.”
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