Residents of Minden have raised concerns about the state of the playground at Victory Park, highlighting safety issues due to damaged equipment and missing facilities for individuals with physical disabilities.
The Minden Parks and Recreation Department has been proactive in renovating several parks across town. However, while other parks have received recent updates, Victory Park, initially not deemed urgently in need of refurbishment, has become increasingly damaged.
According to Mike Aguilar, assistant director of the Minden REC, “Upgrading the parks is well overdue. Some of the playground equipment is cracked, and you can’t even get parts to fix it anymore.” Additionally, the absence of amenities designed for individuals with physical disabilities compounds the urgency for renovations.
Mayor Cox responded to the community’s concerns by acknowledging the deteriorating state of Victory Park.
“I want to assure you that we are actively working on updating and improving our parks throughout the city,” said Mayor Cox. “However, it’s important to note that Victory Park was not in a particularly bad condition when the previous administration initially ordered the equipment approximately two years ago. Unfortunately, over time, some damage to Victory Park has occurred.”
Cox emphasized ongoing efforts to address the issue by salvaging parts from other parks currently undergoing updates, although replacement parts for older equipment, such as the 15-to-20-year-old playground at Victory Park, are increasingly difficult to procure. To fully revamp the park with similar equipment, the cost would be close to $100,000, prompting a strategy of using smaller, cost-effective equipment at other updated parks like Babb Park.
Cox assured residents that recent security measures, including the installation of security cameras and signage at Victory Park, aim to enhance safety for both the equipment and citizens. Plans for further security enhancements, including additional cameras, are set to materialize within the coming month.
The proposal for revitalizing Roosevelt and Hinton parks is scheduled for the forthcoming year, with plans to extend updates to Victory Park and the REC center in due course.
The City of Minden continues to navigate the balance between renovating aging facilities and managing costs to ensure the safety and enjoyment of its residents across all parks.