Beginning June 1, the Columbia Association will continue to fund liability insurance for tot lots in village centers.
It also intends to replace or modify all playgrounds in Columbia in need of repair ? even those it doesn?t own.
“The new policy gives us everything we want,” said David Hendrickson, a parent and volunteer at Stevens Forest Nursery School in Oakland Mills.
“It will ensure our schools can have playgrounds.”
Columbia?s 160 playgrounds would be repaired or replaced on need-based criteria, said Chick Rhodehamel, vice president of open space.
The policy was raced through the association board?s procedures in Thursday?s meeting. Normally, it takes three meetings, or about one month, for a proposal to pass.
“We listened to the community and the villages. There was plenty of input available,” Rhodehamel said.
Hendrickson has lobbied the board since May, when the school learned the association might stop funding for playground insurance.
The school had raised $5,000 to install a new playground, but feared it would not be able to sustain the playground without the association?s help.
Nursery schools in village centers pay the insurance for a playground for the hours when school is in session, and the Columbia Association pays for the remaining time, when the community uses the equipment.
Stevens Forest Nursery School charges $70 to $140 per month as part of a cooperative parent volunteer system.
Without the association?s assistance, the school feared it would have to raise fees or go out of business if an insurance claim was filed.
“I want to applaud staff for this proposal. It does answer what the community wants and makes a great deal of sense,” said Barbara Russell, an association board member for the Oakland Mills village.
