What the Sixpence/Buglenote tot lot looks like today.
If you live in Hickory Ridge, you may be aware that a community treasure is in danger of being torn down. The CA-owned tot lot behind Sixpence Circle and Buglenote needs work. So we fix it, right?
It’s not that simple.
This particular tot lot is unique in several ways. First, it is the only CA tot lot that was designed by someone who wasn’t a CA employee. That man was Fred Jarvis. A landscape architect who worked for Land Design/Research (LDR) back in the early Columbia days, Fred lived on Buglenote in a house of his own design. He designed the tot lot on his own, incorporating some very cool play features. CA built it from his design.
What else makes this tot lot unique? Jarvis’ design — that’s what. Visit this shade-covered playground yourself. It doesn’t look like any other tot lot in Columbia. It’s got that 70’s groove to it (it was designed and installed between 1976 and 1979). It also has things you won’t find anywhere else in Columbia — a wooden “wobbly bridge,” for one. Best of all (at least in my opinion), there is a tree growing up through the fort. You feel like you’re really in a tree house! How cool is that for kids?
The wobbly bridge at the Sixpence/Buglenote tot lot
So why can’t it be repaired? Because the CPSC safety standards for playgrounds have changed — a lot — since 1979. CA policy requires that their tot lots meet the current safety standards. They can’t knowingly leave it as is if it needs work for liability reasons. Has anyone ever fallen and sued? Nope. Is it likely that anyone will? Nope. But we live in a litigious world and CA doesn’t want to take chances. I get that.
So what can we do? I don’t know, exactly. The village has explored ways to classify this tot lot as historic, pleaded its case to CA staff, offered suggestions for “play at your own risk” signage, and more.
That’s where you come in. Share your stories and pictures of this tot lot if you have them. Offer your suggestions. Share this with people you know who might care.
If the Sixpence/Buglenote tot lot ultimately has to be redesigned, so be it. But the Village Board is going to do everything in our power to save this community treasure first. Because that’s what a village does — helps build (and protect) the community, advocates for residents, and shares information.
Will you help us?
Share. Like. Comment. Email.
Thanks.
Email me at jduvall@hickoryridgevillage.org if you want more info on this issue.
Photos shared by readers:
A photo taken 6-7 years ago by Sixpence Circle resident Lisa.
Hickory Ridge Village 
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Would it be possible — if you care that much about the tot lot — for your village to pitch in the money from your own budget to save it and have it brought up to code? That would seem logical to me, and you obviously know that the funds have to come from somewhere. If you lobby to save the tot lot, that expense has to be deducted from another place, of course. Where would you have the HR village take less money? In what line item of your budget? Another option is that rather than just lobbying to save the tot lot, you could find out the cost to remove the playground, the cost to rebuild it code and make a deal with CA to pay for the difference. Then run a Kickstarter-like campaign, such as Indiegogo, and let people put their money where their mouths are. Letters are nice. They represent some interest and care in an issue. And CA in particular has a long and less-than-shining history of kowtowing to a few letters from a handful of people upset about XYZ issue as though somehow those few letters represent The Will of The People, and that will must be *obeyed.* But money and people actually putting forth their dollars in support of something they care about — even in the form of $5 and $10 contributions — now that’s a statement!
Good ideas — but the finances aren’t the issue right now. It’s about liability and risk and the CPSC guidelines. If the solution ultimately requires more coin than CA is willing to spend, these suggestions might work!
I should clarify — some of the conflicts with the CPSC guidelines are key elements of Jarvis’ design. Swings can’t be attached to fort structures anymore. Monkey bars can’t be attached to a fort in the way they are now. Bringing the tot lot up to current standards means drastically changing the design.
Got it. I see what you’re saying. Yeah, that’s a tough situation you’re in with a beloved icon.
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Check out the article on Columbia Patch about the tot lot’s future:
Please check out our website and Facebook Page.
http://www.playbydesignonline.com/
http://www.facebook.com/playbydesign
Play by Design is a group of playground designers and building consultants who work with community volunteers to produce custom-designed play structures for toddlers, preschool, and school-aged children.
Our process is one that unifies communities and empowers their members by bringing them together to design, organize, and construct one-of-a-kind playgrounds and park structures. What sets these structures apart from commercially available playground equipment is the aesthetically sensitive architecture that respects the essence of the surrounding area and reflects its historical, architectural, and cultural features. What makes them treasured assets in their communities is the sense of pride, ownership, and accomplishment built into them by the hands of volunteers.