News Flash

As local school children head into spring break at the end of the week, a ceremony will be held Friday (March 24) to officially open the city’s newest playground at John W. Hall Park next to the Roswell Adult and Recreation Center. The playground is located in the 800 block of North Lea Avenue on the east side of the center.

The ceremony is scheduled from 3:30 to 4 p.m. and will include a ribbon-cutting. The event is hosted by the Parks and Recreation Department, Mayor Dennis Kintigh and the Roswell City Council.

The playground features a new play equipment structure offering slides, climbing areas and other activities. The playground also has a swing set previously at the site that has received a fresh coat of paint. In addition, a mulch ground covering has been installed on the playground area.

The site previously had playground equipment, but much of it had to be removed several years ago because it was in disrepair and presented safety hazards. The swings were still in good condition, though, and have remained as the park’s sole piece of equipment in recent years.

The new playground equipment, which was purchased for $40,000, was installed to enhance the children’s offerings at the Adult and Recreation Center since the number of programs and activities have increased there, including the addition of children’s activities, since the closing of the Yucca Center. The area around the playground includes benches, and the Parks and Recreation Department plans to add more benches in the future, as well as some additional trees.

The park is named for a former mayor of Roswell who served in 1929-1930. An official city resolution declared it John W. Hall Park on Nov. 5, 1935.