Area for children slated in north end of Olander Park

The Olander Park System plans to put a children's area at the north end of Olander Park between Lake Olander and the park's boundary.

It will be called the Catherine Frye Children's Garden, in honor of one of the founders of the park system. Ms. Frye was a member of the first park board, formed in 1958.

The land is less than an acre, according to Erika Buri, the park system's conservation manager, and is underused.

"The idea came out of a national movement to get kids outside," she explained. "We will provide a space for that to happen."

Plans call for the area to have decks, a dry creek bed, observation mounds, flower beds, and outdoor musical instruments such as drums and chimes.

It also is to have two small amphitheaters, a willow tunnel, and a little house made of two-liter green plastic bottles.

"Kids will be able to run, explore, and play," Ms. Buri said. "We may put in a water feature too."

Gary Madrzykowski, the park system director, estimated the cost of the project at $25,000 and said about 40 percent will be donated.

Ms. Buri added that most of the work will be done by park staff. She said construction is to start in the fall and the garden is to open to the public in spring of 2013.

The park board approved the garden project at its meeting last week. In other business, the board approved replacement of an open-air shelter house at Olander Park.

The building, on the west side of the park adjacent to the swim building, is to be torn down and rebuilt by the Sylvania high schools' construction class. A plaque on the exterior of the structure says it was built by construction students in the classes of 1967 and 1968 at the former Sylvania High School.

Dave Woodcock, the park system's maintenance manager, estimated the cost of the new building would be $1,000 to $3,000 and said of the current building, "It's wearing out. It's somewhat falling apart. The weather has taken its toll."

Mr. Woodcock said the students would reuse as much of the lumber as possible, taking it to the shop at Southview High School for planing. He said he expected the new shelter house to be done by May 1. Olander Park has another open-air shelter 50 yards to the north that was rebuilt in 2007.

"The students get to practice their trades while saving taxpayers $24,000 in carpentry costs," said Mr. Madrzykowski.

The open-air shelters are rented for picnics, parties, anniversaries, weddings, and other functions.