Update: June 15, 2018
Following the site survey, the Cedarfield II HOA Board was given the green light to proceed with selecting the playground vendor and design. Based on homeowner feedback provided at the March 14th, April 11th and May 9th HOA meetings of the four potential vendors, the HOA Board signed a contract with Superior Recreation of the Carolinas on May 31, 2018. Superior Recreation installed the Cedarfield I playground and has extensive experience working with several Huntersville neighborhoods, school and parks. Installation of the new playground will commence sometime in late July or early August depending on the weather. The cost of the new unit will be $28,642 and will include:
- One Adventure Play Unit for ages 2-12 years (Unit QSO-5125)
- One free standing Sonic Spinner
- Molded boarders to enclosed playground area
- Kidcushion engineered wood fiber
- Installation of equipment, borders and surfacing
Update: May 23, 2018
the footprint for the new playground structure would work in the area.
Update: April 16, 2018
The current playground structure has been removed. The HOA Board is working with Hawthorne Management to complete a site survey in the area where the new playground is slated to be installed. Once the site survey is complete, the HOA Board will move forward with vendor selection and final design schematics. The playground project may be completed in stages, with future enhancements like a fenced enclosure and additional play structures, added in 2019-2020. Once a contract is signed, design plans will be posted to the Cedarfield II website and information will be included in the Cedarfield Sun Newsletter.
Due to neighbor concerns about the condition of the Cederfield II playground, Hawthorne Management Company contracted Superior Recreation of the Carolinas in October of 2017 to provide an estimate on the cost to repair the cited damages. Superior Recreation reported that the playground unit is over 20 years old, is made of recycled plastic, and is not compliant with current CPSC or ASTM regulations and guidelines. They stated that due to the nature and severity of the cited damage, they would not provide repairs but rather, strongly recommended that the unit is replaced. An estimate for $33,869 was provided by Superior Recreation for a comparable playground unit.
Due to the significant capital cost for a replacement unit, the Cedarfield HOA Board decided to contract with Tier 1 Playground Service, LLC in January of 2018 to conduct a safety inspection of the CII playground. Tier 1 specializes in playground inspections for the city of Huntersville and Cornelius and is not a playground equipment manufacturer, vendor or installer. The following are the findings of the inspection:
- The unit has multiple large cracks in structural components.
- The area between the lower rail and bridge fails entrapment test.
- Ground wire for missing lighting rod is an entanglement hazard.
- Slides have dangerous gaps.
- S-hooks not completely closed.
- Protrusions and gaps in spiral slide hood.
- Spiral slide and roof cracked. Nail sticking out of the post.
- Guardrails needed on three platforms.
- Pullup posts are loose on the ground.
- Missing or inadequate channeling devices on slides.
- Paint on all slides is peeling. Unknown if leaded.
- Paint chips on slides. Unknown if leaded.
- No age appropriate signage.
- 2 pullup bards missing.
- Some bolts on support posts protrude beyond the face of the post.
- Opening at top of climbing wall and metal steps are too wide.
Based on the extent of the damages cited in the Tier 1 Playground Service inspection and the potential safety hazards, the CII HOA Board unanimously decided to close the playground on January 13, 2018, while the board and Hawthorne Management researched replacement options.
As Hawthorne Management sourced playground vendors and collected bids for new playground equipment, they learned that due to Duke Energy’s easement restrictions, CII will not able to install a new playground in the existing space. Per Duke Energy electric transmission right-of-way guidelines and restrictions: structures, buildings, manufactured/mobile homes, satellite systems, swimming pools (any associated equipment and decking), building material, and all other objects (whether above or below ground) which in Duke Energy’s opinion interfere with the electric transmission right of way are not allowed within the right-of-way limits.
At the February 14th CII HOA Board Meeting, the board unanimously decided to remove the existing playground structure as quickly as possible. Since we are not able to put a new playground in the existing location, the board discussed relocating the playground to either the area where the current swing set is located or in the area adjacent to the pool where the grills are located. Vendor meetings with playground specialists have been scheduled to discuss the scoop and location of the new playground. The board will then select 3 bids to present to the community at the March 14th HOA Meeting. Postcards will be mailed to all CII homeowners inviting them to attend the March 14th meeting to learn more about the project and to provide impute. Homeowners may also email [email protected] with any questions, concerns or comments.