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User:Evvekk/Erickson Playfield

Coordinates: 48°06′41″N 123°25′15″W / 48.11139°N 123.42083°W / 48.11139; -123.42083
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Erickson Playfield
TypeCity park
LocationPort Angeles, Washington
Coordinates48°06′41″N 123°25′15″W / 48.11139°N 123.42083°W / 48.11139; -123.42083
Area4.2 acres (1.7 ha)
Operated byCity of Port Angeles, Washington
StatusOpen all year
Websitecityofpa.us

Erickson Playfield is a city park in Port Angeles, Washington. It was dedicated 12 April 1944,[1] and named for Krång Olof Erickson, a local businessman who helped fund the park's creation.[2][3][4] The park received an award from the Washington Recreation and Parks Association recognizing the quality of its facilities.[5]

Dream Playground

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Dream Playground

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The Dream Playground, originally opened on 11 September 2002 was a volunteer built playground within the park.[7] It was demolished Saturday, March 27 to make way for new facilities.[8] The playgroun was demolished over safety and maintenance concerns,[7] including an instance when a child was injured on used hypodermic needle in 2018 launched petition [8][9]

Generation II Dream Playground

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  • Citing safety, visibility, and maintenance issues, 15 trees were cleared from the playground in May 2021. The resulting timber was to be donated to the Kiwanis Club of Port Angeles. 30 trees were to be planted in vicinity with the goal being to eventually double the canopy cover.[10] Four of the trees were cut with long stumps, two of which were later carved.[citation needed]
  • Equipment arrived in Port Angeles on 14 December 2020, stored by City until needed.[11]
  • Opened to children 22 August 2021, formal dedication September 11 2021, raised $600,000[7]
  • Was burned down in early morning fire on 20 December 2023. Fire reported at 3:44 and extinguished at 4:15[12]. A 14 year old boy was and apprehended on suspicion of arson.[13]

Other Facilities

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The front side of the memorial to Frank Russo. The back side has a history of the skate park.
The front of the memorial to Frank Russo. The back side has a history of the skate park.

A skatepark was opened on the park grounds on September 4, 2005.[14] In June 2006, a local child died in a skating accident in the park. A memorial was erected in June 2011. [15]

The park also has a pump track, which opened on July 6, 2022.[16] The contract to build the track was approved by the city on 1 June 2021, with funding for the track coming from both the city and local businesses and organizations.[17] It was the first such wheelchair accessible track in the United States.[18]

A calisthenics park opened on October 14, 2017. Community fundraising efforts started in 2015.[20]

Additional resources

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References

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  1. ^ Erickson Playfield dedication plaque (Plaque on park grounds). Port Angeles.
  2. ^ McNutt, John (2022-07-02). "BACK WHEN: The life behing[sic] the name on Port Angeles building". Peninsula Daily News. Archived from the original on 2023-12-23.
  3. ^ Lofgren, Svante (1948). Barth Ar-Kell. Seattle, Washington: Publications Press. p. 204. ISBN 978-1125583418. OCLC 1052669768. Among the other donations to his home city is a large playfield for children, which is furnished with all modern equipment and is located opposite the Civic Field. It is in the donor's honor named The Erickson Playfield.
  4. ^ "Erickson's fund set up PA playfield". Peninsula Daily News. June 15, 1990. p. A3. In 1944, K. O. Erickson set up a $4,000 fund for a children's playfied beause "the park board finds that they have no funds available to buy suitable playfield equipment." Erickson agreed to donate enough money to buy swings and slides.
  5. ^ Park, Ken (2023-04-11). "Erickson Playfield wins state award". Peninsula Daily News. Archived from the original on 2023-12-23.
  6. ^ Ollikainen, Rob (2020-10-20). "Dream Playground upgrade coming in June". Peninsula Daily News. Archived from the original on 2023-12-22.
  7. ^ a b c Thorpe, Keith (2021-08-21). "Second gen playground opens to children". Peninsula Daily News. Archived from the original on 2023-12-22.
  8. ^ a b Leach, Leah (2021-03-28). "Demolition makes way for new dream". Peninsula Daily News. Archived from the original on 2023-12-23.
  9. ^ Cohen, Gabe (2018-05-30). "Petition gains hundreds of signatures after boy pricked by needle at Port Angeles park". KOMO-TV. Archived from the original on 2023-12-23.
  10. ^ Leach, Leah (2021-05-15). "Trees to be cleared for Dream Playground". Peninsula Daily News. Archived from the original on 2023-12-22.
  11. ^ "Generation II Dream Playground Equipment is Here!" (Press release). City of Port Angeles. 2020-12-16.
  12. ^ "Beloved Port Angeles Dream Playground Damaged in Fire" (Press release). City of Port Angeles. 2023-12-20. Archived from the original on 2023-12-22.
  13. ^ Robertson, Sebastian (2023-12-20). "Dream Playground in Port Angeles destroyed in fire, teen arrested". Archived from the original on 2023-12-22.
  14. ^ Reverse side of Frank Russo memorial (Memorial on park grounds). Port Angeles, Washington.
  15. ^ Gottlieb, Paul (2011-06-19). "Five years after his death, monument moves forward for Port Angeles skateboarder". Peninsula Daily News. Archived from the original on 2023-12-22.
  16. ^ "OFFICIALS CUT THE RIBBON ON NEW PORT ANGELES PUMP TRACK". Radio Pacific, Inc. July 7, 2022. Archived from the original on January 7, 2024.
  17. ^ Ollikainen, Rob (2021-06-23). "PA council OKs pump track contract". Archived from the original on 2023-12-20.
  18. ^ Hunt, Paula (2022-06-18). "Pump track opens". Archived from the original on 2023-12-22.
  19. ^ Gawley, Brian (2007-01-17). "Port Angeles will overhaul Erickson tennis courts". Peninsula Daily News. Archived from the original on 2023-12-23.
  20. ^ "Grand opening set Saturday for Port Angeles calisthenics park". Peninsula Daily News. October 12, 2017. Archived from the original on 2024-01-08.