It won’t be long before kids will be playing on the new equipment in Riverside Park in Clearwater.

 

Tuesday, the city’s public works crew, along with a representative from the supplier, Themed Concepts, began installing all the new structures.

 

The equipment will be completely different than anything people in the area have seen before.

 

All the equipment has a water/nature theme.  Part of the  irregular-shaped 65’x75’ space will have three 3’x5’ rock climbing structures that look like fish - a jumping bass, walleye and bluegill. Next to the climbers will be an ID board, offering information about the fish. 

 

The system also includes cattail spinners, nature-related hoppers for kids to jump from one to another, and two slides. The slides will be attached to two rock climbing walls which are connected by a rope bridge that resembles a waterfall. Also included are two large log benches. 

 

The whole design is nature-related.

 

“Fish, fox, frogs, turtles  - typical things you’d normally see in a setting like this,” said Clearwater City Administrator Kevin Kress. “It’s pretty much a nature theme.

 

The playground will also include two swings.

 

Kress said they are still waiting for delivery of the two slides, but everything else should be done within a week.

 

The crew already built a new pavilion last fall as the first part of the park transformation.

 

By summer, the entire park should be done.