News

Village pledges $200,000 for playground

John Dockendorf describes features of a playground at the Park at Flat Rock.

By Bill Moss, Published: October 9, 2014

FLAT ROCK — John Dockendorf said as much as people enjoy the new Park at Flat Rock, they're "baffled" by one major missing feature.
"The playground is pretty much the first thing that goes in," he said.

Dockendorf, an adventure tour company owner who leads a committee that has explored the design and placement of a new playground, told the council that the town could spend anywhere from $200,000 for a bare bones stripped down version to $700,000 for the fanciest playground.
Mayor Bob Staton said the high-end model looked good.
"I think that would be fantastic," Dockendorf said. "I don't have the nerve to ask for it."
After a long discussion the Village Council voted to commit up to $200,000 for a playground that will include berms, slides, nets and other features for climbing, hiding and running.
"We would love to know what we could get from the council here so we could get to work," Dockendorf said. As for the highest price playground, he said, "We would love to have that here. We don't think we can raise (that much money). We don't think you should pay for it."
The council also agreed to commit up to $250,000 over three years to match a state Parks and Recreation Trust Fund if the state grants the town's request next year. The Flat Rock Park and Recreation Foundation is applying for a grant of up to $250,000 for the two projects the council has identified as the top priorities — a pavilion and the playground.
Foundation Director Maurean Adams said the nonprofit has raised $25,000 to $30,000 but has not yet pushed hard for playground donations.
"No one has been confident that you guys were going to get behind it," she said. "Now that you are, I think we'll see that" increased interest in donating.

Landscape architect and land planner Ed Lastein, who is managing park development for the village, has created a sketch showing the playground to the right of the welcome center — the old golf course clubhouse — between the walking trail and Highland Golf Villas. Features include a tower with bridges, nets, slides and suspended play features, earthen berms for climbing and sliding and moguls for hide and seek, king of the mountain and other creative play.

"This also leads down to the tree area where we hope kids will get outside and play," Dockendorf said.
The Village Council adopted a moratorium on major capital project for the park in the current year — after completion of the welcome center, which it has endorsed in the 2013-14 budget year. It may have to allocate money in the 2015-16 year to fund the pavilion and playground, which together have a pricetag of $585,000.

If the village fails to win a PARTF grant, the council will deliberate during budget drafting on how to fund the playground and pavilion.

"Bring forward your request and try to get it in the budget," Councilman Don Farr said.

If the council gets no PARTF grant or gets a grant that covers less than the full cost, the village could still move ahead with scaled down versions, Lastein said.

"We can adjust the playground cost and the pavilion cost to come in where we want it to," he said. "We can adjust both projects to fit the money."