Paul Biddle was a volunteer who helped build the original Playfront Park in 1990. And in the past few years he has spent plenty of Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays in the big playground next to Bayfront Festival Park.
"We were one of the last ones to use the old park," Biddle said of the playground equipment that was torn down to make way for a new playground.
At Friday's grand opening, Biddle's
6-year-old daughter, Jazmyn, gave the new venue high marks -- as did all of the children who were asked to give the park a letter grade.
About 50 children -- ranging from observers in strollers to brave climbers -- rode the slide, spun on tire swings, dangled from their knees and crossed monkey bars. The highlights for those interviewed included a thin plastic S-shaped slide that you straddle, a tire swing and a high-backed chair swing.
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There also were slivers of tunnel to climb and crawl through, which are held suspended by rope, making them buck and sway with movement.
The structures are set on chunks of reused tires and another more solid and colorful rubbery surface.
Here are opinions from seven kids:
"My favorite is probably the slide, because it's different. It's skinnier, and it doesn't have sides."
SKYLAR BARBER, 10
GRADE: A
Skylar was a regular at the park before its upgrade, too.
"I like the tire swing. I've been to (a park) with one before, and I would say this is the best park I've been to."
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DYLAN BARBER, 8
GRADE: A
Dylan is also a fan of the slide.
"You don't have to pump your legs."
JAZMYN BIDDLE, 6, likes the chair swing.
Her father, Paul Biddle, pointed out that the reason she didn't have to pump her legs is because he was pushing her.
"It's pretty cool. I like the tire swings. They're the funnest swing. This (park) is pretty cool because it's different and unique. Most parks don't have rings to go through."
ZAKIA JENKINS, 10
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GRADE: A
"It's kind of crazy going down the slide."
DESTINY JENKINS, 8
GRADE: A
"I like this park, like going through the tube and it rocks, and I like the climbing part. The other (playground equipment) was wooden, and I got splinters."
GALA WRIGHT-AMUNDSON, 9
GRADE: A
Gala was also a fan of the tunnels.
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"My dad swings me very high."
DYLAN HILTON, 6½ (and 9 days, he added)
GRADE: A
"And dad likes it, too," said Peter Hilton, who pushed Dylan on a swing.
