STORY AND PHOTO BY KAREN BOSSICK

This week the Wood River Women’s Foundation announced that the organization’s 300 members are awarding $25,000 to the local Kiwanis Club for a new performance stage in Hop Porter Park.

But a group of Moms contends the park’s playground needs replacement, as well.

The Moms are urging the community to attend a public workshop concerning the park from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Thursday, April 11, at the Hop Porter Pavilion.

Amanda Houston, Brandee Smith and Kim Smith are spearheading a community outreach effort to provide the city with community feedback on either improving or replacing the playground.

Houston says current problems include rotting wood and nails popping out, which makes it unsafe for children. Eight of the structure’s play elements were broken, missing or removed this past summer, she added.

“Hop Porter's playground is the city’s largest play structure. It was built in 1998 with an anticipated 20-year life cycle, according to the city,” said Houston. “Entering its 26th year, the play structure has degraded significantly over the past few years. The maintenance requirements on the aging wood structure are not being fulfilled and it is no longer a safe or fully functioning playground. But we’ve been told that the city has no plans to improve the playground for the next 10 years, even though it does plan a new pavilion, stage and event lawn.”

Houston said she was told during a February 2024 meeting that city staff needed significant community imput to consider playground improvements a priority for the community. To do that, they’ve constructed a survey for English and Spanish speakers to take.

English speakers may take the survey at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/KTZXLMP. Those who prefer to take it in Spanish may do so at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/8JXDLS9.

To learn more, visit https://www.haileyparksmatter.org/. Or, contact Houston at haileyparksmatter@gmail.com.