Park Upgrade Seeks to Get Community Moving

Boynton Beach approved a $150,000 project last week to transform and improve Oceanfront Park.

The project will include several playground areas, an upgraded family interaction center and an adult fitness area, according to Andrew Mack, director of public works. Construction begins in eight to 10 weeks.

"This park was designed keeping in mind the importance of fitness and play for all ages and abilities with the goal of creating a happier and healthier community," project manager Gail Mootz said.

The city's recreation and parks department was awarded a $50,000 grant for new playground equipment by Kompan Inc. The company only gives out grants five times a year nationwide, Mack said at Thursday's commission meeting.

The playground areas will include new musical pieces — such as drums, xylophones and chimes — and a new carousel with a top brace to provide children with cerebral palsy a "safe spinning experience," Mack said.

The park will include designated areas for 2- to 5-year-olds and 5- to 12-year-olds with a variety of activities such as sliding, spinning, climbing, balance and jumping, Mootz said.

The existing playground will be moved closer to the parking lot so the city can build two smaller playground areas called megatowers that will have climb-up ropes, stairs and slides. One megatower will be larger with a walking deck.

The adult fitness area will have push-up bars, step-ups and equipment for stretching exercises, Mootz said. The majority of playground and fitness equipment will be built with galvanized steel or recyclable plastic material that is "the best to withstand the salt air," Mack said.

There are plans to replace the picnic tables with aluminum ones along with new trash receptacles, Mootz said. New park benches, bike racks, and swing benches are also on the list. Shade coverings will not be installed for any of the new areas, but trees will be placed close enough to provide some form of shade, Mack said. The project is estimated to be complete in December or January, Mootz said.

In September, Florida Power & Light finished building solar panel canopies and solar trees at Oceanfront Park to power clean energy to about 5,000 customers in Palm Beach County. It is one of the biggest solar structures in the state, and provides about 40 parking spaces with shade.

Follow Palm Beach Post reporter Chelsea Todaro on Twitter at @chelseatodaro

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