Sokolov will demolish 18 old children's playgrounds

photo: KČT, department Krušné hory Sokolov

Sokolov - 18 old playgrounds with dilapidated play elements will gradually disappear from Sokolov. The city is removing them with regard to children's safety - the attractions in these playgrounds do not meet safety standards. In the future, only a dozen central playgrounds in individual parts of the city will offer activities for children, Sokolov's mayor Jan Picka (ČSSD) told reporters today.

"We are removing these playgrounds precisely because, as a city, we can no longer guarantee that the play elements are safe. If something unpleasant were to happen there, we as a city do not want and cannot bear responsibility precisely for it happening on a play element that no longer meets safety standards," said Picka. At the same time, the city wants to ensure that there is a playground in each part of the city that is conveniently accessible.

The last area where such a playground is missing is the four-thousand-strong housing estate Vítězná. Old dilapidated playgrounds have already gradually disappeared from there, and a new playground should be established there by this summer. "We have already announced a tender. The playground will be under surveillance and fenced off so that vandals cannot damage it in the evening hours," Picka added. The city has prepared 4.5 million crowns for the construction of the playground. It will offer activities on modern attractions such as trampolines built into the ground, a castle with a slide, or a water element.

The city manages central playgrounds. At the same time, it offers the possibility of transferring the management of some of the older preserved playgrounds to, for example, a civic association of residents from the adjacent houses. They can then maintain and operate the playground themselves, but they also bear responsibility for any injuries.