County installs new Ben Williams Park equipment

You may have wondered if it would ever happen. If so, you're not alone.

Lakeside residents have heard talk of new playground equipment in Ben Williams Park since the spring of 2006. Even when efforts of the Ben Williams Park Committee and, later, the Lakeside Area Parks Committee, seemed to be gaining momentum, many families in the community grew weary of waiting for those plans to become a reality.

"We kept hearing that it was going to happen, and then nothing happened, so I kind of stopped following it," Michelle Fetveit said. "We live in a small town, so I guess I don't expect too much."

Fetveit's frustration reflects a sentiment that is prevalent in the Lakeside community. It was to everyone's surprise, when crews began clearing overgrowth and prepping an area for the playground, a few weeks ago. Then, when the activity again ceased, some concluded that Ben William's Park must be pretty low on the county's list of priorities.

However, come last Tuesday, the Flathead County Park and Weeds Department sent a crew of workers to the site with a truck full of parts, to begin assembling the main piece of playground equipment, called the Adara, which is part of "constellation" from the popular playground manufacturer Kompan.

The project occupied the next two days and, by Wednesday afternoon, the main feature was fully assembled, waiting to be cemented in. The crew decided not to pour cement on Thursday, due to the rain. The task was, however, undertaken on the following day, rendering the structure complete and ready to use.

The same crew planned to install a handful of smaller pieces in the Kompan constellation, including Spinner Bowls, Spicas and a Supernova - a large, slanting ring similar to a merry-go-round but set in motion on a continual line of ball-bearings so that an group of children can balance and spin together - this week.

"We're definitely excited that something is finally happening," Fetveit said. "It will be nice to be able to take the kids down there. We're excited to be able to use this. I've got four kids, ages two, six, nine, and 11, and they're all boys so outdoors is the way to go.

"Before, the park was kind of dangerous. There was a lot of overgrowth, and it was kind of scary looking - kind of a spooky hollow. I heard it was more of a teenage hangout than a park, so I'm glad they've cleaned it up and want to make it something nice. It would be really nice to have a place for kids to have birthday parties and special outings. We usually go to Woodland Park, but it would be nice not have to always travel into Kalispell. We need something for our community, where people can get together."

Lakeside Area Parks Committee chairwoman Tamara Tanberg said she was also pleased to finally see some of the equipment installed, after working on the project for almost three years and gathering input from families throughout the community.

"It's awesome," Tanberg said. "I think the location of the playground is good, too, because it's out in the open where parents can see. Before, it was hard to see, but the new location works really well and you get the full morning sun, as well as some shade in the afternoon. The committee has given it a lot of thought, and visibility was a big issue.

"This has really been a collaborative effort. It's the same with the new bathroom. I think it functions better where it is now, and it's easier to maintain."

Tanberg said a number of people have asked her if the committee intends to keep the metal slide and swings that are still standing on the site of the former playground. That, she said, will largely be up to the park board to decide.