First phase of SNAP playground area nears completion
All children in Hartselle and Morgan County will soon be able to enjoy the first phase of the John Mark Stallings Special Needs Accessible Playground at Sparkman Civic Center.
Bob Francis, SNAP of Morgan County project manager, said the more than half a million dollar facility would not have been possible without all of the volunteers through the years, including those who showed up Saturday to help install equipment in the first phase of the playground.
“When we’re all finished, this will be about an $800,000 investment in our community,” Francis said. “This is a park that our community can be proud of. It’s a place where all children, special needs and non-special needs children, can come and have fun.”
Max Maxwell of Playscapes of Alabama said the equipment is designed to help children of all ages interact.
“It’s not just for special needs kids,” Maxwell said. “It designed so that all children can have fun and play together.”
Playscapes designed the playground equipment for the first phase of the SNAP playground area. The Sway Fun Glider and OmniSpin Spinner were two of the larger attractions installed.
Maxwell also added that the surface for the playground is PebbleFlex.
“This is only the second location that we have installed PebbleFlex in the state of Alabama,” Maxwell said. “It’s much safer and cooler than cement or the older rubber surface.”
Volunteers that helped with the SNAP build day on Saturday included the G.E. volunteer group headed by Kevin Terry.
Francis said the last phase of the park is the $215,000 playground adjacent to the first phase of the park. He also added that the completed entryway will have a clock tower and an LED-lit SNAP logo.