Clinton playground demolition paused due to storm

CLINTON, Ill. (WCIA) — One Central Illinois playground is getting ready to be torn down, but demolition was halted after Monday night’s storms.

The Kiwanis playground in Clinton was set to be demolished at 7 a.m. Tuesday. The City of Clinton announced Tuesday afternoon that the storm put a halt on the park’s demolition. They added that until further notice, the park will be closed.

WCIA’s Jared Thomas spoke with Clinton residents on Monday as they reflected on the demolition of the park and what can be expected in the future.

“Anytime we would talk about that park or anytime a student would go to that park, I would be like, ‘Hey, see that tot lot? That little spot.’ Like that was that was my idea,” said Clinton resident Taylor Patterson.

Some people in Clinton are looking back on fond memories a beloved park brought them for more than two decades.

“I believe it was fourth grade, we got this news from the school that this company was coming and they wanted kids to help design this park that they were going to build,” Patterson said.

Patterson said she has a personal connection to the playground.

“The part that was my idea that had got picked — was the tot lot; the little space that had like all of the smaller equipment,” she added.

WCIA spoke with City Administrator Taylor Baxter who said the jungle gym is old and unsafe.

“It’s been here since 2003, and it’s just getting to the point where it’s beyond repair and it needs to be fully replaced,” Baxter said.

Officials said the goal is to build a brand new park that is fully inclusive.

“There’s going to be play features that are handicap accessible and meet ADA-compliant throughout the entire park,” Baxter added.

He said it’ll cost the city anywhere from $350,000 to $500,000 to replace the playground.

“It’s like bittersweet — sad to see the ultimate play space go, but to know that that is the end goal, that’s what they’re wanting to move, like that is amazing,” Patterson said. “I absolutely love that.”

Officials said they’ll bring up the proposal at the next council meeting. If passed, they’re hoping to start the project by the fall. The bricks with people’s names engraved will stay put and wont be destroyed.

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