As Local 12 reported, the city of Cincinnati is poised to create a new chapter for Sawyer Point with the construction of a replacement for the 1000 Hands Playground, which was destroyed in a fire last November beneath the Daniel Carter Beard Bridge.
Cincinnati Parks has selected Midstates Recreation to helm the project, citing their partnership with Earthscape for natural, creatively-designed play spaces, the cost estimated between $1.9 million and $2.1 million—a sum to be culled from public and private coffers, in need of further resources, as per details shared with FOX19. Yet despite the weight of this endeavor, the location of the new playground has been strategically chosen to the east of the 471 bridge, to better nestle amongst Sawyer Point's volley of amenities—this being the promenade, stage, courts, amphitheater and wherein lies the opportunity for a newfound icon to rise at the heart of shared public joys.
"This is about resiliency," Jason Barron, director of Cincinnati Parks, reflected in a statement obtained by WCPO, indicating the vision behind rebuilding a playground that promises to reignite the sparks of adventure for legions of Cincinnati children. The new play area, spanning up to 14,000 square feet, will hold a custom, hand-built structure in its embrace, with no set timeline for the completion of its construction but a stalwart commitment to quality.
As the foundation for this initiative solidifies, Cincinnati Parks earnestly seeks community input concerning the playground's design. Interested parties may lend their voice through an online survey. Simultaneously, the legal wheels grind for those indicted for the arson that scorched wood and iron last year—Zachary Stumpf, Terry Stiles, Kaitlen Hall, James Hamilton named by authorities.
