Do we really need a park that talks to the kids?
From the City of Tampa – New Kid-Designed Playground Opens at Al Lopez Park – November 10
Kids in the city’s After School Activity Program will cheer as they celebrate the opening of the new playground they helped design. Mayor Pam Iorio will attend the opening celebration at 3:30 p.m. Monday, November 10 at Al Lopez Park, located at 4810 N. Himes Avenue.
This community designed project includes an extensive “EVOS” Play Structure – a “gyroscopic” play system that engages children of all ages; an accessible Playshaper play structure for younger and/or limited ability children; two family friendly shade structures with picnic tables; challenging Mobius, Spacenet, and “Rock” climbing structures; and an element unique to Florida – Talking Tot Turf.
The Al Lopez Talking Tot Turf will be the first of its kind not only in the State of Florida, but in the Eastern United States. A Hopscotch and Piano Keyboard are embedded playground surface and when a child steps on these designs, it will seem as though sounds are being emitted from the area where the child is playing. The Piano Keyboard sounds will coincide with the keys on an actual keyboard. The hopscotch counts as the child plays.
The playground cost $325,800 and was funded through the Park Improvement fund and the Community Investment Tax.
Ok, this thing opened on Monday. Let’s take some guesses as to when the “talking turf” will no longer be working properly. I pick Monday, February 2, 2009, the day after that thing.
