New playground equipment coming to Lower Burrell's Braeview Park

Children in Lower Burrell’s Braeburn neighborhood will have new playground equipment in July.

City officials signed a $56,700 contract with Sports and Recreation Associates to install new playground equipment at Braeview Park after it was removed last fall.

Deeming it “dangerous,” city public works crews removed the equipment, which was estimated to be more than 25 years old. Issues found by an inspector included sharp, rusted edges on equipment; the jungle gym on the verge of collapse; and other tripping hazards.

The lot has since been vacant.

“We budgeted for this expense this year and, in addition, received a $5,000 donation from the Honkus-Zollinger Charitable Foundation toward this project,” Lower Burrell Manager Greg Primm said.

Council signed the contract in mid-May and anticipated the equipment would be installed within six to eight weeks after doing so, Primm said.

Renderings indicate the new equipment will have a swing set, slides, climbing walls and ladders.

When the old equipment was removed last year, the city had intended to replace it but wasn’t sure how long that would take.

Councilman Dave Stoltz thanked the city’s director of parks and public works, Michelle Hatbob, for her work securing the new equipment.

“(Without) her quick planning and budgeting, this would have never happened this summer,” he said. “She always does a great job with the parks.”