New playground being installed at O.B. Nelson Park in Fairfield

FAIRFIELD — The new playground at O.B. Nelson Park in Fairfield is already under construction, after the Partners for Play playground equipment was removed earlier this fall.

Fairfield City Engineer and Public Works Director Melanie Carlson announced that the supplier and contractor, American Playground, arrived in Fairfield on Dec. 20 to begin construction on a new 2,300-square-foot playground. The new playground will be two stories and continue the previous castle theme.

The new equipment will include five slides, four climbers, and is designed for kids aged 2-12. It is replacing the wooden Partners for Play playground installed in 1999. Carlson said installation should take a couple of weeks, and that there is more room at the park for further additions.

“The City, as well as the Park and Recreation Board and Park and Recreation Foundation, recognizes the extraordinary community effort behind the original wooden park and intends to honor that effort by incorporating the ‘Partners for Play’ stone sign and the donor wall into the park,” Carlson said.

Carlson said the playground will be open as soon as the orange snow fence surrounding it is removed.

“There may be parts that seem done, but it’s not structurally safe until its complete,” she said.

Carlson said the new playground will take up about as much space as the old one, excluding the tot area and swings. She said the installation crew plans to work continuously when possible, though the snow may slow them down.

Call Andy Hallman at 641-575-0135 or email him at andy.hallman@southeastiowaunion.com