New Pirate-Themed Park In Works For Palm Bay
By Space Coast Daily // November 26, 2012
Community Build Project
BREVARD COUNTY • PALM BAY, FLORIDA – The city of Palm Bay will break ground Tuesday afternoon on a new pirate-themed playground on Riviera Drive.
Advanced Recreational Concepts, a local company and BCI Burke, a national playground equipment manufacturer, have partnered with the city to donate a pirate-themed playground at the site including safety surfacing.
The new playground will be a community build project using donated labor to install the playground equipment under the guidance of the ARC employees.
“This is an outstanding opportunity for the city of Palm Bay to grow its park system,” said Heidi Lapin, Palm Bay’s director of Parks and Recreation. “There will be no cost to taxpayers. The city will use park impact fees to pay for the site work and additional amenities to enhance the park.”
The new playground will provide play opportunities for neighborhood children and a place for families and neighbors to meet and enjoy the outdoors.
Additional upgrades to the park will include a new gazebo, picnic tables and benches.
The new playground will provide a unique opportunity for the children in the area to engage in creative imaginary play.
“This is the Cadillac of playgrounds,” Lapin said. “We feel this unique donation will open the doors for endless positive experiences for our community both now and into the future.”
In mid-October the president of Advanced Recreational Concepts, Lazaro Gonzalez, approached Lapin about a collaborative project in which the Melbourne company in partnership with BCI Burke would construct the pirate ship playground complete with slides, climbing features, interactive play panels and more.
The donation, valued at $65,000 is an effort by the companies to give back to the community and partner with the city to offer positive, healthy activities for residents.
The city will be required to invest about $12,000 of park impact fees (not tax dollars) for necessary site work to properly install the playground and safety surfacing.
“I was elated by this opportunity to build a new playground in an area where children need a place to play in their own neighborhood,” Lapin added. “And the best part about this, aside from the fact it’s all donated, is the community will have total ownership because they are going to help build it.”
The project should be completed by early January 2013.
Ground breaking ceremonies will begin at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at 1381 Rivera Drive.
