If you’ve driven by the Beachwood Family Aquatic Center over the past few months, you’ve probably noticed that the land which once housed the long-standing city playground is filled with dirt and construction equipment.

This is because in the summer of 2024, Beachwood will boast the addition of a brand new playground. The opening date depends in part on weather, but Community Services Director Derek Schroeder  is hopeful that it will open for community use within the next few months.

“Early summer is the best I can say,” Schroeder wrote in an email. “It’s all dependent on weather for the construction crew.”  

The new playground will have many exciting features and amenities that the previous playground did not have; it will also be more ADA accessible.

The construction of the new playground is a two-phase project. 

The first phase, which is scheduled to be completed at some point in March, involves the construction of the playground surface, drainage system and new sidewalk. 

The second phase will see the new equipment start to go up.

“The equipment is going to be updated and there will be a wide variety of equipment with more open space,” Public Works Director Chris Arrietta said. “A pavilion for gatherings will be added. The sandbox will be shaped like a clam shell.”

The majority of the old playground equipment was over 20 years old and had reached its life expectancy, which prompted the construction. The old equipment will be thrown away. 

The pieces of the “spiderweb”, which was constructed more recently for the summer of 2016, will be installed at the playgrounds at Bryden and Hilltop as well as playgrounds in other communities.

The renovation plan surfaced in 2022. According to Arrietta, this was a long-time goal of Mayor Justin Berns, who took office on Jan. 1, 2022. 

The input of the community was also a factor in making this decision. The city reached out to the community by surveys on Facebook. The respondents were able to detail what they wanted to see in the new playground, and the city incorporated the community’s feedback as they moved forward with the planning

“The recipients noted in the Facebook survey that they didn’t like the old mulch,” Schroeder said. “It will have brand new surfacing and turf.” 

Arrietta is excited about the new playground.

“It’ll be a fantastic improvement for the community. It really finishes off our recreational amenities,” Arrietta said. 

According to Schroeder, the recreation department has a number of other projects planned after the completion of the playground this summer.

“We are looking at adding a pavilion and restrooms structure at Beachwood City Park East near the dog park,” he said. “We are also planning to add a new basketball court by the Beachwood Family Aquatic Center, behind the bathrooms in the parking lot.”