City to Demolish Current Playground in Anticipation for New Playground and Splashpad

The City of East Ridge will begin demolition on the current Pioneer Frontier Playground beginning Monday, April 5 to prepare for the new playground and splashpad equipment to be installed. Demo is expected to be completed by May 1 and installation should begin around the first week of May.

During the demolition, all sentimental items will be preserved and City officials along with the playground committee will meet to discuss what to do with those items. A dedication and grand opening ceremony will be announced at a later date closer to completion.

The footprint of the playground and walking track will be blocked off and unavailable until the new playground and splash pad are installed which could be middle to late summer depending on weather.

No Clear Answer on When Pioneer Frontier Construction May Begin

For more information, please contact Parks and Recreation Director Adam Wilson at (423) 805-3110 or [email protected].

City officials began discussions of a new playground two years ago. Five years before that, City officials said the old Pioneer Frontier playground, which was built in 1994, had outlived its useful life and its splintering timbers posed a danger to the children playing there. It was stated at the time that the city’s insurance carrier deemed the playground a hazard.

Then mayor Brent Lambert met with a group of concerned citizens about the fate of Pioneer Frontier which was built in part by community volunteers. At that meeting many of the residents in attendance opposed the dismantling of the playground. Some said significant pieces of the existing playground should be integrated into any new design. 

City officials received a $500,000 grant from the state’s Local Parks and Recreation Fund. At that time, city officials said the playground with an accompanying splashpad would be completed no later than the summer of 2020.