REDMOND, OR -- Central Oregon’s first playground designed to be accessible to all ages and abilities has been delayed, but work is progressing. Redmond Mayor George Endicott tells KBND part of the delay was finding just the right equipment for the unique playground at Sam Johnson Park. "This park is going to be fully ADA accessible on all of the 70 events we’re going to have there, so you have to find the right vendor to make sure that that works right and it took us a long time to do that." 

But, he says vendor decisions and fundraising efforts weren't the only things that delayed Hope Playground from opening as planned in May. "One of the other things that held us up was having the right kind of mat, and we decided on a pour. It’s a rubberized compound kind of a deal; if a kid falls, you want to make sure they don’t get hurt." He adds, "It’s taken a long time to get all of the excavation just exactly right. It’s exciting, I mean, it’s under construction now. You first build it, then you pour the concrete to firm it up, then you pour the floor. The concrete pour, I think, is early next week."

The city is hoping volunteers will come help install the newly delivered playground equipment on Friday. Click HERE for more information. Mayor Endicott expects the playground to be open for visitors in mid-October.