Red Star playground removed after city inspectors find it broken

Those in the city's Red Star neighborhood may have noticed the recent absence of a tiny playground on North Main Street.

City crews took down the structure Friday.

"Our guys had been notified that there were some broken pieces on it and went down to inspect it," said parks and recreation director Julia Thompson. "[They] didn't feel comfortable leaving it with a few pieces that had been either broken or vandalized."

The equipment was on a small patch of land near Third and North Main streets. Its future remains indefinite. Nearby was one of the early community gardens tended by master gardener Robert Harris. He proposed the construction of playground equipment a little more than six years ago, after he became involved in the Red Star garden.

Despite the equipment, garden and surrounding green space, Thompson said the area is not recognized as a city park.

"That whole area is in a flood buyout zone that's regulated by FEMA [Federal Emergency Management Agency]," she said. "So there's a community garden there that's an informal space Robert Harris uses for crops, but it's not technically designated a park."

Federal and state flood buyout money has allowed the city to buy several flood-prone properties in Ward 1 over the years. Per FEMA rules, no solid structures may be built on those properties, but some structures are allowed.

Bo Kleman, acquisitions agent with the city of Cape Girardeau, said in some ways it's a matter of interpretation.

"The only new structures that may be built is something open on all sides and designated as an open space," she said of flood-buyout properties. The city would have to agree playground equipment met that criteria.

While parks often are a popular use of such properties, Kleman said federal suggestions often are along the lines of nature reserves or camping spaces.

"Not necessarily playground-type areas; more like the park is just like a green space," she said.

Any structure that is built has to be deemed "floodproof," she added, so the city and the manufacturer of the playground equipment would have to agree on that designation as well.

Thompson said any future involvement by the parks department depends on the actions of the neighborhood and the city council.

"I would assume that if the city council decides to ... put a plan together for green space or park space, we would potentially be involved with the neighborhood to decide what it would be used for," she said.

The city has been looking into possible recreational opportunities in the Red Star neighborhood, although not specifically on the corner where the playground stood. The adopted 2015-2020 Capital Improvements Program includes a $2.5 million project in the "Red Star Recreation Area." The proposed project includes an RV park, boat ramp and recreational dock, playgrounds, trails and community space. The project is on the back burner because the city has not yet identified a possible funding source.

srinehart@semissourian.com

(573) 388-3641

Pertinent address:

Third Street and North Main Street, Cape Girardeau, Mo.