After nearly two years of discussing the play structures at Phelps Park, the City of Winter Park Parks & Recreation Advisory Board will install the Miracle Recreation Fitness Challenge structure to the park in January 2022.
The decision to install the new structure comes as a result of a resident-only survey the City of Winter Park conducted earlier this month that offered three potential playground structures on which locals were able to vote for the playground at Phelps Park. From October 5 through October 17, 207 total votes were cast, approximately 146 of which were in favor of the Miracle Recreation Fitness Challenge structure, winning the vote by 72%.
Installation of this structure was initially proposed by Christine Williams, spokeswoman for the Help Fix Phelps initiative, an effort led by a group known as Concerned Families Who Play at Phelps Playground to make changes to the recently renovated playground. In July, the group gathered local support to lobby the Parks & Recreation Department for additions to the recently renovated playground based on their belief that the changes to the park do not accommodate older children.
“While we know the Miracle Recreation structure will not make Phelps Playground what it used to be, we are happy that it will provide a variety of interesting and challenging activities to restore play at Phelps for bigger kids ages 5-12,” Williams said. “Thank you to everyone who supported Fix Phelps throughout this genuine community effort!”
According to the City, next steps would typically include sending the board’s recommendation to the City Commission for consideration. However, since the cost of the new structure, approximately $36,000, falls under the $45,000 budget approved by the City for this project in September, the Advisory Board unanimously approved the installation of the structure at yesterday’s meeting.
