OCEAN PINES — The Ocean Pines Association will hold a ribbon cutting ceremony for its newly installed 14,600-square-foot Manklin Meadows Park replacement playground, located along Manklin Creek Road in Ocean Pines on Saturday, May 6 at 1 p.m.
The park was closed to the public in November 2016 after its deteriorating condition led to safety concerns. Restricted access to the playground was put in place strictly out of caution. Now several months later, the park is back open with a new playground.
“The association is always looking to bring the best we can in regards to safe, clean and enjoyable amenities,” Aquatics and Recreations Director Colby Phillips said. “It’s extremely exciting to see this playground come to completion, especially before the summer season heats up. Families will be looking for outdoor adventures and Manklin Meadows Park will be their first stop.”
A $212,577 playground proposal that was presented to the Ocean Pines Board of Directors was approved at a January 28, 2017 board meeting. The proposal was submitted by River Valley Recreation of Wrightsville, PA and featured more play equipment and slides than other proposals.
“We will keep a piece of the past park by placing the existing Gazebo in the center of the new playground,” said Phillips.
The original playground was completed in September 2003. A community-wide fundraising effort led by Ocean Pines resident Barbara Kissel and fellow volunteers helped to build the structure. A commemorative wall of handprints, which was built along with the original playground, will also grace the new playground.
The completed project, located in the Manklin Meadows Sports Complex at 11443 Manklin Creek Road, features multiple play structures such as slides, Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) appropriate swings, climbers and wood fiber surfaces.
The public is invited to enjoy food, fun and music at a ribbon cutting event that is scheduled for Saturday, May 6 at 1 p.m. Acting General Manager Brett Hill, Recreation Manager Debbie Donahue, Marketing and PR Director Denise Sawyer, and Recreation and Parks Committee Chair Tim McMullen will speak before the public.
The agenda for the event includes remarks made by Ocean Pines officials at 1:30 p.m. followed by a ribbon cutting at 2 p.m.