New Playground Up and Running at Collingwood Park

Fairfax County Park Authority leadership recently joined members of the Wellington Civic Association to cut the ribbon on a new playground at Alexandria’s Collingwood Park. The new playground replaces an older one that served the community for over 20 years. Smiling children dashed from one apparatus to another before and after the ceremony, according to a news release from the county.

Here’s more about the new playground, information courtesy of Fairfax County: The new equipment meets current playground safety standards and includes swing sets for young children (ages two to five) and older kids (ages 5 to 12), a bouncy duck, and a leaf spinner. The main play structure includes climbers, slides, tunnels, and activity panels. Other elements of the project include a new drainage system under the playground, three new benches, and the planting of two shade trees.

At its meeting on December 10, 2008, the Fairfax County Park Authority Board authorized the reallocation of funds from the 2002 and 2004 Park Bond programs to replace a group of playgrounds that included Collingwood Park.

Of the project, Katherine Ward, vice-president of the Wellington Civic Association, said, “The community worked very closely with the Park Authority staff to make this new playground a reality. It encompasses all the things the community desired, including the newly planted shade trees and recycled materials for the benches.”

Pictured from left to right with members of the community are Linwood Gorham, Mount Vernon District representative, Fairfax County Park Authority Board; Joe Nilson, former Area 3 manager, Fairfax County Park Authority; Sara Baldwin (center, back), deputy director, FCPA; Katherine Ward (center), vice-president, Wellington Civic Association, Inc.; Phil Hager, Area 3 manager, FCPA; Jai Wortherly, FCPA; and Kirk Kincannon, director, FCPA.

Collingwood Park is located at 8200 West Boulevard Drive in Alexandria.

Playground photo courtesy of Fairfax County.