Melaina's Playland to shut down 4-6 weeks for second repair of tiles

Even though springtime is here, Melaina’s Magical Playland at Cape County Park North soon will be closing for repairs.

Bryan Sander, superintendent of the county parks department, said the all-inclusive playground that’s a favorite of special-needs children will close Saturday for four to six weeks while its rubber ground tiles are replaced.

“That’s a bad thing,” he said, “but it’s one of those things that has to be done when it’s warm. It couldn’t be done in the winter.”

Members of the Canadian firm that installed the tiles three years ago will be in town again to fix what Sander said should have lasted more than a decade.

But after only three years, the tiles are falling apart and the company hasn’t figured out what’s causing the problem.

Last year, the park was closed for a week while the company tried to remediate the situation.

“They’ve come and repaired it a couple of different times,” Sander said.

Despite those efforts, it appears the adhesive used in fitting the soft tiles together isn’t working properly.

Once the reinstallation is complete, the company will recycle the old tiles, Sanders said.

Sanders said he should have a better idea how long the park will be closed once the company’s workers get started.

The public will be alerted when the playground is ready to reopen.

ljones@semissourian.com

(573) 388-3652