HARLINGEN — Forgotten but not gone, little Bonham Park needed some attention.
The small park behind Bonham Elementary School has had little of that from the city following an act of vandalism five years ago in which the park’s playground equipment was burned. But now a $160,000 playground makeover is bringing Bonham back to life.
“I’m happy to say that Bonham Park, after going years without any playground, has a new playground,” Parks Superintendent Jeff Lyssy told the city’s Parks and Recreation Advisory Board this week.
“That’s really great for that neighborhood,” Lyssy said of the area at North 21st Street and East Jefferson Avenue.
The playground area and the parking lot are still under construction but should be opening soon.
Funding for the playground equipment and installation came from several sources, including a $112,000 Community Development Block Grant, as well as an $18,000 grant from GameTime, the commercial playground installer the city has used often.
“We got that grant from GameTime which kind of helped us get this project off the ground,” Javier Mendez, parks and recreation director, told the board. “What we’re going to do is salvage the swings from the existing playground … and we’re talking to another contractor to see what he would charge to do artificial turf around it.
“So we’re waiting for a change order from GameTime to be able to hire this other company to come in and install the turf for us,” Mendez added.
In addition to the swings, the parks will get a spring-loaded grasshopper for kids to ride as well as a merry-go-round. The site also has playground equipment with slides and climbing towers.
For parents, parks officials are happy to be able to say they’ll have a new, 18-spot paved parking lot.
“It’s really a nice-sized parking lot there,” Lyssy said. “So those are big, big improvements to Bonham Park.”
Bonham Park is a half-acre facility with picnic tables, benches and a covered picnic shelter.
It won’t be nearly as fancy as the new all-inclusive playgrounds the city is constructing at Lon C. Hill, Pendleton and Victor parks.
It’s not all-inclusive, but will be ADA-accessible, parks officials say.
WHERE: Intersection of E. Jefferson Avenue and N 21st Street .
AMENITIES: 0.5 acres, playground, picnic tables and benches, covered picnic shelter.
NEW: Playground equipment with slides and climbing towers, paved parking lot.
