Dinosaur adds adventure for kids in city park
Kids in Breckenridge have a new adventure awaiting them at the City Park (aka Miller Park) just in time for the Thanksgiving holiday break – a dinosaur to climb on. On Tuesday, workers installed a new three-piece concrete dinosaur skeleton designed for kids between the ages of 5 and 12 years old to explore.
The new playground feature is located in the park by the large oak tree near the intersection of Old Caddo Avenue and East Hullum. During the installation, workers moved the large rocks around the dinosaur to create a play area that was filled with a fall-zone padding. Breckenridge City Manager Andy McCuistion said the skeleton is made of durable concrete specifically designed for children to climb on. “We hope they climb all over it,” he said.
McCuistion said that when trying to decide what type of playground structure to put in the area he chose to go with the dinosaur because he felt it would match the area. “I like the idea of the dinosaur,” he said. “I thought it would fit with the area and fit with the big rocks.”
Workers guide the head of the new dinosaur playground attraction at Miller Park during installation on Tuesday. (Photo by Tony Pilkington)
The purchase and installation of the dinosaur, which cost $38,000 including installation, was paid for as part of a matching $75,000 grant the city received from the Texas Department of Parks and Wildlife. McCuistion said the first part of the money from the grant was used to build the skateboard park located across street from the dinosaur and the final part was for buying and installing the dinosaur.
He said because the grant was a matching grant, the city had to match the $75,000, which he said was done through fundraising. He said most of the fundraising was done by the people who wanted to see the skate park built and sold sponsorships to businesses in the area. In return for the sponsorships, signs with the sponsors’ logos are being put up in the skateboard area. McCuistion said they are still in the process of getting all the sponsor signs put up because each sign is unique and has the business logo included on the sign.
Installation of the dinosaur was completed on Tuesday, and McCuistion said kids can start climbing on it immediately. However, said the City still needs to connect it to the handicap ramp to allow handicapped children to access it and to make it ADA compatible.
The installation of the dinosaur playground attraction at Miller Park was completed Tuesday afternoon. It is ready for kids to climb on. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)
Story by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan
Cutline, top photo: Workers unhook straps from the new dinosaur playground attraction at Miller Park during installation on Tuesday. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)
