Rendering of the Lucy the Elephant playground that will overlook Jerome Avenue.
By NANETTE LoBIONDO GALLOWAY
MARGATE – The city’s beloved pachyderm has her eye on the busy Jerome Avenue corridor. It could be sooner than next summer when Lucy the Elephant takes on a new persona as a place for children to play.
According to Director of Recreation Andrew Miles, the city is considering building a new playground at the Sigmund Rimm Recreational Complex that resembles the iconic structure that overlooks the Atlantic Ocean.
“For several years, I’ve wanted to build a unique playground in Margate,” Miles said Friday afternoon.
The city has embarked on a mission to upgrade all the city’s playgrounds and the Jerome Avenue location would be a perfect spot to build something unique this coming year, he said.
“We are planning to build a large playground on the existing T-ball field between the basketball courts and tennis courts,” he said.
The play structure will have a Lucy the Elephant theme with swings, and a large baseball bat and glove to climb on, Miles said.
The playground will be visible from Jerome Avenue where the Lucy play set will welcome visitors and residents as they drive into town from the Margate Bridge. On their way out of town, they can give Lucy a wave.
Miles said the existing playground back on Edgemar Circle would be converted to a game area for children and adults, with two new bocce courts, a permanent outdoor ping-pong table, cornhole setup and chess and checker boards.
“Our middle school kids hang out there all the time, and this will give them something to do,” he said. “Our intention in summer is to have a staff member out there to provide equipment for the games…and have ping-pong, cornhole and bocce tournaments.”
Details of the plan are still in the making, but families can look forward to playing there next summer, he told the Board of Commissioners Thursday, Nov. 19.
The city budgeted funding for the project in its 2020 capital program, so the estimated $300,000 is available to purchase and install the equipment and make the renovations to both areas in the park.
Miles said he has been working on the project for about two years and the city is now at the stage where it can be completed.
“Part of the appeal is people driving into town will be able to see the playground with the big giant Lucy staring out at you,” he said. “It will be a large grand playground.”
Final plans will be completed in January, equipment ordered, and installation completed by summer.
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