The Optimist Club playground at the Alpena County Fairgrounds will remain where it is after the Alpena County Board of Commissioners voted 8-0 Tuesday to reject moving the park. The playground sits along the Thunder Bay River, and the Optimist Club says it may still receive improvements this year.

The decision followed remarks from Optimist Club President Beckie Thomson to the county’s Finance, Ways, and Means Committee. The club had delayed investing in the playground while county officials considered the park’s future and negotiated a possible fairgrounds management agreement.

Why the playground was considered for relocation

Commissioners first discussed moving the playground in 2021. The proposal involved building campsites in the area where the park is located, but the plan ultimately stalled because of the expense of constructing the new sites and installing utilities.

There was another short discussion earlier this spring and again this month about relocating the playground because of safety concerns. One suggested location was in front of the Merchant’s Building, where county officials believed more people might be able to see activity at the park.

Board Chairman John Kozlowski said the relocation had been an idea from years ago and that there had been no serious discussions about moving the playground since then. The unanimous vote leaves the park in its current location.

Playground repairs remain uncertain

The Optimist Club had been prepared to invest in the playground, but held off while the county determined what would happen with a proposed contract involving Blackwater NE LLC. The club had assurances the playground would remain in place.

Blackwater and the county began negotiating in April on an agreement that would have given the private company management control of the fairgrounds and much of its infrastructure. The county voted in June not to enter into the contract.

One of the playground’s main attractions is a large wooden tractor. Thomson said the club found a replacement tractor online for about $12,000, but postponed buying it after the Blackwater project was announced.

“The one tractor that does have some issues and it is starting to fall apart. It is still solid for climbing on, but there are some pieces off of the tires,” Thomson said.

Thomson said the club had planned to order a new tractor and replace the existing one in the spring, but did not want to spend money on equipment that might be removed.

“We were going to order a new one and hoped to replace it this spring and then Blackwater came about. We don’t want to put money into something that was going to be torn down. Therefore we didn’t do anything.”

The club is now trying to determine whether Murphy Builders can repair and improve the existing tractor. The company has not yet inspected it at the fairgrounds. Thomson told commissioners that Murphy Builders initially offered to complete the work free of charge, but later said it would do the job at cost.

“They said they would love to fix it up for us,” she said.

Until the company examines the tractor, the Optimist Club does not know whether repairs are possible. The club would prefer a repair if Murphy Builders agrees to take on the work, but will seek a replacement if the tractor cannot be fixed.

“If Murphy Builders wants to repair it, we would love for them to repair it. If they can not, we would like to replace it.”

Commissioner raises supervision concerns

Although commissioners approved keeping the playground in place, Vice Chair Brenda Fournier said she remained concerned about safety and the lack of parental supervision she has observed when children use the park.

“With the housing near there, there are a lot of children that go there and play all day long and often, their parents don’t go with them,” Fournier said.

Commissioners briefly discussed installing a sign similar to signs at beaches, notifying visitors to play at their own risk or stating that adult supervision is required. Fournier said such a sign might not resolve the issue but wanted her concerns included before the vote.

“If anything bad happens,” she said. “I had my say.”