Community Corner
Is Ponderosa Park Playground Equipment Too Hot?
Parents say they would like canopies to keep the equipment cooler.
Several local parents have spoken out this week about the playground equipment at Ponderosa Park in Scotch Plains, saying it gets too hot to use in on warm days in a report by MyCentralJersey.com.
“The playground equipment is beautiful. But once you get close you feel it (the heat). There is no shade on the playground equipment. They (the children) can’t touch the sides, they are too hot,” said Jenn Coppock-Huegel of Fanwood in the report.
The 23-acre county park opened last year and includes walking trails, multipurpose fields for soccer and lacrosse, a variety of playground equipment and swings, and—the biggest draw these days—a spray fountain in the center of the play area.
“They can’t slide unless they pour water on it cause it’s really hot,” said another parent. “It gets really hot and you have to find some shade.”Parents are looking to have canopies installed to keep the equipment cooler.
Union County spokesperson Seb D'Elia responded to the parents in the report, saying there are mature trees at the park that do provide quite a bit of shade, and that he hopes their impressions aren't made by what it is like on the very hottest days of the year.
What do you think? Have your children not been able to enjoy the park because of equipment that is too hot? Tell us in the comments.
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