The west playground at the Yuma Children’s Academy has been off-limits to its youngsters since the May 20 hail storm.
The storm also messed with YCA’s annual fund-raising golf tournament, which was rescheduled from June to this past Saturday. However, it had to be canceled due to a lack of participation.
Funds from the tournament were going to help pay for the playground equipment that is not covered by insurance. All of the sponsors for the tournament, however, have graciously donated their sponsorships anyway.
Dave Hoch and YCA Board President Chris Blecha have been fighting insurance for the past several months.
Like a majority of structures in Yuma, the Yuma Children’s Academy sustained extensive damage from the storm. The facility was closed for about one week, but has been opened since.
Quite a bit of interior work had to be done. Windows still remain boarded, but Hoch said new ones will be installed soon.
YCA has a few different playgrounds for different age groups. State licensing authorities closed the west one due to the damage, deeming it unsafe until it is renovated. The playground serves Pre-K, preschool and after-school kids. For now they are able to use the south playground.
Hoch said where there are broken windows, the rock has to be removed and the dirt dug down six inches and then replaced. All of the ground surfaces need to be replaced. The area that has bark will be dug out and replaced with pea gravel. The rubber surface will be removed and replaced. The sand box will be moved into the corner so there is more room for the tricycles — which Hoch said have to be state-approved tricycles.
The roof among the playground slide structure is being replaced, and that alone is $2,000.
YCA already had plans to replace the fencing around the facility, thanks to a Yuma Community Foundation Grant, but then the storm came along, resulting in a delay in getting that done.
Hoch said they are getting closer with beginning the renovation project, but for now the west playground remains off limits.