Cedar City's beloved Park Discovery is undergoing significant renovations, with city officials hopeful that the upgrades will foster "imaginative and explorative play for generations to come."

Originally completed in 2001 through community design and funding, the park has faced challenges over time. Gabbie Costello, the city’s community relations and public information officer, shared with Cedar City News that, “At the time the park was built, we were able to build a beloved playground with money and materials that were community-supported. Over time, the park has become dilapidated, vandalized, costly to upkeep, and dangerous."

Concerns about the park's condition came to light a few years ago when Cedar City’s insurance provider, URMA, flagged the playground either as unusable or in need of renovation. "The City understands the community ties to this park and hopes it can continue to be a place of imaginative and explorative play for generations," Costello emphasized, noting that safety is a key priority in the renovation. “Unfortunately, much of the play structure was made of wood and had many safety concerns.”

Anthony Pearson, Lead of the Cedar City Parks Division, reiterated the focus on safety: "That's the biggest thing ... is safety. We want to make sure that we provide a safe place for kids to play and through time -- things degrade."

Renovation plans began taking shape in 2024. “With so many new projects in the city, we didn't see much opportunity to receive funding for Park Discovery in the coming years,” Costello explained. To proceed, the Parks Department applied for funding from the Recreation, Arts, and Parks (RAP) Tax Committee, which awarded $420,000 for the project. "The city still competes for funds with other local applicants," Pearson noted.

After receiving approval in August 2024, construction on the new park began in December, with Big T Recreation providing the playground equipment. Completion is expected by spring 2025, depending on weather conditions and supply availability.

The updated design incorporates suggestions from the community, such as improved sightlines for parents to supervise their children. The new park will feature a multilevel structure, climbing areas, shaded instrument spaces, spinning toys, a 12-foot slide, a swing set, a group swing, and a duel zip line, including an ADA-compliant one.

Some beloved park features, like the dinosaur dig area, amphitheater, and hieroglyphic wall, will remain intact. "It will also feature ADA-compliant amenities, making it accessible and safer for all," Costello added.

As news of the project spread, Cedar City residents expressed mixed feelings about the demolition of old play structures, many of which were built by locals. One concerned resident, Brenden Whitelaw, questioned the demolition approach and suggested that more could have been done to upcycle materials. "Recycling the structures could have been an educational and learning experience for the community," he stated.

Pearson acknowledged the emotional attachment many people have to the park, as he himself helped build it at age 12. “I understand where people are coming from,” he said, and assured the community that staff is working to repurpose materials where possible, including swings and composite materials for future repairs. He also mentioned that some sentimental items, like handprint tiles, are being returned to their original owners.

A memorial wall will be created to honor the park’s original supporters, with names of those who contributed, ensuring the history of the park continues to be celebrated. Pearson hopes to further expand the park as more funding becomes available.

Cedar City News Reporter Jeff Richards contributed to this report.