Chelan to remove unsafe playground equipment at Don Morse Park

CHELAN — Some playground equipment at Don Morse Memorial Park will be removed in the coming days after failing to meet current safety standards, according to Chelan city staff.

Parks and Recreation Director Audrey Cooper told the Chelan City Council that the decision follows a recent inspection by a newly certified playground safety inspector on the city’s maintenance staff.

After reviewing the equipment, staff determined that several elements could not be repaired due to their age and the lack of available replacement parts.

“There are a couple of elements within the playground at Don Morse that are not meeting safety standards,” Cooper said. “The manufacturer that produces that equipment is no longer in existence, and replacement parts cannot be purchased.”

Even when similar parts can be found from other manufacturers, Cooper said they do not match the existing structures, although City staff did make an attempt to determine whether fixing the existing equipment was feasible before making the decision to remove anything.

“It’s not the right width. It’s not the right diameter,” she said, noting that replacement pieces from other companies cannot be safely fitted to the aging equipment.

Because of that, the city does not have a reliable way to repair the structures, leaving removal as the only safe option.

The affected equipment is expected to be taken out as soon as possible.

Cooper said the removal is not something the city takes lightly, but is necessary to ensure the playground remains safe for public use.

The Don Morse playground has also been identified in the city’s Parks, Recreation and Open Space plan as a site in need of replacement. Much of the existing equipment has reached or exceeded its typical lifespan, which is generally 15 to 20 years depending on use.

The current playground also lacks accessibility features that meet modern Americans with Disabilities Act standards, an issue the city may address in a future capital project.

Cooper said the site presents an opportunity to build a more inclusive and updated play area for the community.

“There’s lots of opportunity if we wanted to invest and reinvest into that park,” she said. “To build something really high quality for the families and the kids in our community to play at.”

Andrew Simpson: 509-433-7626 or andrew@ward.media