The city will dispose of unsafe playground equipment and a swing set at Long Park after the Roanoke Rapids City Council declared it surplus property Tuesday.

The playground has been the subject of an online petition drive on the website Change.org

Parks and Recreation Director Kelly Daughtry said the equipment at the park, which is adjacent to the T.J. Davis Recreation Center is over 40 years old and has been deemed by staff as unsafe. “The typical lifespan of playground equipment is eight to 15 years,” she said. “It can be stretched to around 20 years.”

Daughtry said she has requested $75,000 for new equipment in her budget requests for the upcoming fiscal year.

“This is a liability issue and it’s unsafe,” City Attorney Geoffrey Davis said.

He said even if the city were to put police tape around the equipment or cones, it would remain what he described as an "attractive nuisance," given a child’s desire to play. “This winter, with the long freeze we had, was especially hard on aging things like this. Something really needs to be done with it from a liability perspective.”

Daughtry told the council that Long Park, which also has a walking trail, will remain a recreational space that is open to the public.

She said following the meeting that she has requested several things for the upcoming fiscal year. “One of those is the Long Park playground and swing replacement. I have requested this before. Parks and Recreation does have a lot of maintenance needs. There’s been a lot of deferred maintenance over time.”

It will be up to the council to decide what can and can’t be funded. “That will be determined by them,” Daughtry said. “I have given them our top 10 priorities, and the Long Park playground is in that top 10.”

If funded, new playground equipment would be installed, including a mulch safety surface, which she said is required.

The petition page, which as of this morning had 199 signatures, says: “Updating the playground will not only ensure the safety and health of hundreds of children who use it daily but will also revitalize community spirit. We call upon the city of Roanoke Rapids to take immediate action by allocating funds for the renovation and upkeep of the (Long Park) playground. Proper maintenance, installation of new equipment with modern safety standards, and regular cleaning schedules should be implemented.”

The petition continues, “By improving this playground, we can foster a safe, welcoming environment for our children and families. It is time to make the necessary changes for the sake of our community’s future. Please join me in urging the city of Roanoke Rapids to prioritize the safety and well-being of our children by signing this petition. Your support is vital to make the playground a safe haven for our little ones once again.”