Community Center playground funds question

There is a question about funding to replace the playground at the Boca Grande Community Center, which was removed for renovations as part of the Renaissance Plan of Friends of Boca Grande. The playground was used by both The Island School and locals, as it sat open to the public during non-school hours.

Christine Oliver, Head of School, confirmed the discussion.

“Originally, the school was told that two pieces of equipment would be removed but the main playground would stay, which we were totally fine with because the two pieces of equipment being removed were not fan favorites,” wrote Oliver in an email to the Beacon. “However, [Lee County] Parks & Recreation did not want to reinstall the existing playground due to rusty bolts and warranty concerns, and there appeared to be an assumption that either the school or the Renaissance project would cover the cost.”

The cost now ranges from $350,000 to $650,000.

“As the playground is a county-owned facility and open to the public, it is clearly a county playground. The school does not exclusively use the playground,” Oliver wrote. “I would also like to note that the playground equipment probably should have been replaced by the county following one of the three hurricanes but was not.”

The island had raised $19 million for the improvements to the Community Center, Oliver added. Lee County Parks & Recreation assumed the playground replacement would be funded through the Renaissance project or the school, she said. 

Marta Howell, executive director of the Friends of Boca Grande said that there is no issue whether a playground will go back at the center. It is just a matter of sorting out what the county can do.

The Beacon reached out to Lee County. “Lee County continues to work with our partners on the island and from the school regarding this project,” said Tim Engstrom, public information specialist.