Editor,

I grew up in this town, moved away for many years, but recently returned to raise my children here.

We went down to City Beach park the other day and were very surprised at the children’s playground that is in a deteriorated state of disrepair.

My kids said it best when they said “This playground stinks,” and for once it wasn’t the smell of the treatment facility nearby.

Many portions are rusting through. There are many missing items from the structure. Plywood is covering openings to play structures and slides, and there are some very sharp chain link pieces and exposed bolts ready to cut children wide open as they try to maneuver through the obstacles.

I understand this playground has been around for a very long time, but I’m sure that it could be fixed and or replaced with some funds from the city and maybe even some private donor funds that provided the structure in the first place.

I for one would be interested in soliciting some funds to tear that thing out and replace it with a splash pad for our children.

If our city would invest some funds into our parks, specifically at the waterfront, I believe our community would thrive. As for now, it’s a disappointment.

Troy Crossley

Oak Harbor