City officials have decided that further planning is required and the need for keeping children in the community safe are the reasons for a temporary closure of the Children’s Play Space at the Nathan Dean Sports Complex starting immediately.

The announcement came late this afternoon via press release from the city.

Here’s the full release:

“The City of Rockmart, after difficult consideration and additional inspections, has decided to temporarily close the Children’s Play Space at Nathan Dean Sports Complex. The closure is effective 4/29/2022 at 5:00 PM. This will allow the City time to evaluate options and develop a plan to repair/replace the play space.

The City regrets any inconvenience this closure may cause but the safety of our children is of the utmost importance.

Although we are unsure of the length of this closure, it is our intention to involve the community in the process of developing a new play space for our children. The City wishes to thank the community in advance for their understanding and patience as we work through this process.”

City Manager Stacey Smith reported that further updates about the grant to pay for new playground equipment at the Sports Complex will be forthcoming, along with a schedule of when a community meeting will be held in the coming weeks.

Check back for more on Polk Today as information becomes available about the status of the playground closure.