Playground area at Franklin School is available for residents in the south end area

[Submitted Photo]

The Musser Park playground will continue to be closed to the public through June 20 due to construction work as part of the Southend Improvement Project.

Current activity includes the construction of a trail extension from the levee to Oregon Street.

The contractor and City of Muscatine staff determined that, for the safety of the public and the workers, the playground area would need to be closed due to its proximity to the work area and the potential hazards in the work area for children and adults.

Work on the trail extension and ancillary sidewalks is tentatively scheduled to be completed late next week. However, the current schedule is weather dependent and the temporary reopening of the playground area may be delayed until later in June.

Additional work at Musser Park includes the removal of the old shelter Tuesday, June 7, with the area cleared for a new concrete pad and the installation of a new shelter structure later this summer. Also part of the Southend Improvement Project is the removal and replacement of the playground equipment at Musser Park. The new playground is anticipated to be installed this fall. However, that timeline depends on the delivery of the new playground equipment that is currently delayed due to supply chain issues.

While the playground area at Musser Park and at Taylor Park are currently closed for public use, the playground area at Franklin School is available. Parents and children are reminded that use of these facilities is at your own risk as the areas are unsupervised. The other playground area currently available in the southend is at Sunset Park.

The renovations at Taylor Park, which will include a pickleball court, a splash pad, and a restroom facility, are on schedule with paving of the parking area slated for next week, weather permitting. Once the parking area is completed, work will begin on the splash pad area, pickleball courts, pad for the restroom building, and pad for the new shelter structure. New playground equipment will also be installed as part of the project.

New playground equipment is also expected to be installed at Sunset Park later this year or early next year.

Please be aware of surroundings when walking in or around construction areas, and avoid these areas if at all possible.