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July 16, 2025

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2 News Homepage News News Portal Lead

Take Your Pick: Wilmer Park Playground Design Vote

September 7, 2021 by Spy Desk

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A committee of hard-working volunteers has narrowed 12 playground designs for Wilmer Park to the best two. Click the link below to access more information on both proposals and submit your vote:

https://bit.ly/WilmerPlayground

Voting ends September 15. Please pass this link to anyone who might be interested.

Wilmer Park is getting a playground! A subcommittee of the Chestertown Recreation Commission is working to select the design that will be installed on the site (see image below). The subcommittee developed a Call for Designs based on input from the community listening session at Wilmer Park on June 14 and Facebook comments. Seven playground companies submitted 12 designs. The subcommittee narrowed these options down to the two contrasting designs on the following pages based on the following factors: adherence to the Call for Designs, play value, attraction value, aesthetics, fit with the site, and references from previous company clients. We would now like the community to help us choose between these two designs. Note that a separate project will fund the installation of benches.

Please vote for your preferred design by midnight on Sept. 15. Only submit one vote per person. Children are encouraged to vote as well!

The Recreation Commission and the subcommittee will present one design for approval to the Chestertown Town Council at their meeting on Sept. 20, 2021.

Note that both designs have approximately the same cost, and both of them have the following features:

– A foundation layer of compacted drain rock
– Poured-in-place rubber surfacing that meets ASTM Head Injury Criteria for fall safety, and is permeable, accessible, and very low maintenance
– Separate play areas for ages 2-5 and 5-12
– Musical features
– Swings for all ages and abilities
– A nautical theme

Option A (Kompan)

Primary materials: pigmented Robinia (locust) wood, nylon/steel cables
The slide pictured in stainless steel is now made from PE plastic

Main features:
– Exciting “wow“ factor with a unique design that stands out from other Mid-Shore parks
– Strong maritime theme that matches Chestertown’s heritage
– Allows for imagination and creativity
– Robinia locust wood has a natural look, blends in with the surroundings, and is a renewable resource
– Several climbing features and dramatic play elements like binoculars, a ship’s wheel, and cannons
– Warranties: Lifetime for steel and some plastic; 15 years for other plastic; 10 years for Robinia wood

Product pages for main components (including 3D models)

 

Option B (All Recreation/Burke)

Primary materials: vinyl- or powder-coated steel, compound plastics, and polyester/galvanized steel cables.

Main features:
– Has a ship to add a theme for creative play
– Lots of variety in play features and motor challenges
– A variety of musical instruments, including an electronic guitar
– Many different climbing features and slides, including a unique roller slide
– A mix of traditional design and modern flair
– Warranties: 100 years for poles and hardware; 15 years for platforms and plastic; 10 years for fabric; 5 years for climbing cables and moving parts

3-D Model here.

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

Filed Under: 2 News Homepage, News Portal Lead

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Letters to Editor

  1. John P Rolfes Sr says

    September 7, 2021 at 3:32 PM

    Option A Is my choice, I think it takes up less overall space but is a larger play area. And I like the wood.

  2. Karen O'Connor says

    September 7, 2021 at 5:03 PM

    Let’s get with the times and embrace Design 2, modern, fun, dynamic!
    Some of the most interesting playgrounds I have seen include features like these. They engage children and stimulate creatve play.

  3. Catherine Davis says

    September 7, 2021 at 6:35 PM

    I like design B for the Wilmer Park!

  4. Carol Mylander says

    September 8, 2021 at 8:53 AM

    I seem to remember the rubber flooring can cause cancer in children and it is not recommended. There is a very soft deeply mulched natural playground mulch I have seen in Georgia playgrounds that is very safe. Please be careful in your choices.

  5. Terry nelson says

    September 8, 2021 at 10:41 AM

    I like this one as it is fully open and you can see a child easily. Looks like the shop has some closed off spaces. I didn’t see a 3d version of the ship one so maybe its not.

  6. Lynn McLain says

    September 8, 2021 at 12:01 PM

    They’re both good — but my vote is for Option A. Thanks for asking!

  7. Patricia Pfeiffer says

    September 8, 2021 at 3:39 PM

    Design B is my choice – it just LOOKS LIKE FUN ! From my short knowledge of parks for kids – we’re always on the hunt (grands 5 & 7 yrs in San Diego) – they gravitate immediately to the slides & all the ways to get there – ropes rings,bars, steps etc. And, along with the swirl of colors, the addition of musical instruments will create a wonderful “sound of music” to their parents ears !!

  8. John P Murray says

    September 10, 2021 at 11:57 AM

    BOTH NICE DESIGNS, BUT MY VOTE IS FOR OPTION “A”

  9. Barry Dirkin says

    September 11, 2021 at 4:06 PM

    Option A is reminiscent of the popular community built playgrounds designed by Leathers & Associates in the late 1980’s. While they were creatively designed most of these playgrounds did not last through to the purported lifespan of the materials. The wood used for these playgrounds eventually splintered and many had to be decommissioned. I don’t know about the lifespan of the wood proposed in Option A. But issues like splintering are something that should be considered.

    Both designs look very creative. But, I would suggest that lifetime maintenance of both designs be considered and perhaps give additional weight to the design that should need the least maintenance. Your town Parks Department will thank you.

    • Teresa Paddy says

      September 14, 2021 at 5:04 PM

      The Wood used for the Option A is Robinia (Black Locust) which is naturally rot and insect resistant where the Leathers Playgrounds were made with lumber such as pine that was typically sourced at the local lumber yard. The Robinia product was historically used by farmers and ranchers to build fences and foundations because of it’s natural rot resistant qualities and durability. This product can last for many years with little maintenance. It’s also repairable and won’t rust like steel and aluminum playgrounds.

      • Barry Dirkin says

        September 16, 2021 at 10:12 AM

        Locust is indeed rot resistant. What it is not is splinter resistant. Splintering is not an adverse impact for a farm fence, but it is for playground equipment. There are basically two choices to reduce the chances of splintering… use a dense hardwood like ipe or have an annual maintenance program in place for the playground that includes treating the wood to reduce weathering. Ipe is cost prohibitive and often harvested without regard to environmental impacts. Treating the wood to reduce weathering can easily be accomplished. However, it is a maintenance program that needs to be put in place and committed to by the town. This is my only point of comments. Both designs look to be very well done.

  10. Dawn Reilly says

    September 13, 2021 at 6:06 PM

    They are both nice designs, but if I were a kiddo, I would LOVE to play around on option B:)

  11. Zane Carter says

    September 15, 2021 at 9:42 AM

    I think that playground “B” looks more interesting, engaging and attractive, and that the fluid use colors and patterns will make it appear less visually disruptive in the pastoral environment of Wilmer Park.

  12. lindsay Johnson says

    September 22, 2021 at 4:50 PM

    My vote is for plan B. Looks like fun.My grandchildren would love it. Too much wood and very old fashioned in plan A.
    Plan B is fun.

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