Park Manager Answers Our Questions

By Carolyn Ibici

The new playground has brought a lot of families to the park! And many folks are taking advantage of the trails for walking, jogging, and exercising. Here’s an update via questions answered (in italics) by Miriam Elsasser, the Project Manager for North Four Corners Park.

When Will the Park Open?

The official opening will be in the spring. I will send you a notice once it is prepared. The field is having additional work and will not be available for use this year.

Why does the soccer field have lines dug into it marked with different colors?

We are using this park as a test subject to provide irrigation in a local park. Also, they are presently working on the field to improve the grass. We have not taken over this area from the contractor since the grass did not meet our specifications.

What about the grass in field next to playground?

We are hoping the grass will come in more this Fall. This part of the park was taken over by our maintenance staff.

A handicapped-accessible porta-potty appeared in the neighborhood parking lot but it has been placed directly behind the handicapped parking, which impedes anyone who would need to use the parking space. Can it be moved?

The company dropped it off at the wrong location. The Park Manager has been notified and it will be moved to the enclosure near the new parking lot.

On the playground equipment, a child had a severe fall in the web structure, bouncing from rope to rope, lay stunned, but got up and seemed to be fine. Is it safe?

Thank you for the information. I have sent to the appropriate people.

All of our playground equipment is certified to be safe by IPEMA [International Play Equipment Manufacturers Association]. It seems that the piece performed as designed. The way the webbing is made, children can’t fall very far until the webbing catches them. When we design playgrounds, the principle is that we remove all hazards but you need to provide risks for the children, otherwise it doesn’t help them to develop. There are a number of these webs — including larger ones — in our parks and have had no problems.

Invasive plants are overtaking new landscaping.

We have already done four treatments to the park. Invasive removal has to be done by highly trained people. We still have more treatments under contract. The problem is that the seeds are in the soil. I am told that they can still germinate four to five years after the plants are removed. The fencing was for deer protection. I think that the head of the Weed Warrior program was going to see if they can get volunteers to take over the park once we are finished with our treatments.

The base of the drains are at different heights; one of them in particular looks like an animal or small child could slip in. Why aren’t the grates extending over the whole piece?

The water is supposed to stay in the area for infiltration. It goes in to the storm drain once it reaches the level of the weir (entry). Everything that was done was approved by Montgomery Department of Permitting Services, [which] inspects these facilities as used throughout the County.

There is an old bench that was dedicated to someone who lived in the neighborhood. It does not seem to have been included in the cleaning up of the park. It would be nice to have it cared for.

This area will be treated for invasives. This area is out of our contractors’ limits of disturbance. Eventually, it will fall to the park maintenance staff to keep mowed. I am sure that the park staff will work on that area. ■

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