Richardson Landmark Flies into History

By Andrew Laska
Tuesday, July 15, 2008 at 10:51 AM

Deconstruction of the Heights Space Age playground happened on Monday. Many people were on hand with many learning of it from stories on the Echo, the Dallas Observer's Unfair Park blog, and a Dallas Morning News story. Many people arrived hearing of its demise only that day.

Click Here for Pictures.

Many people were sad including several crying mothers. Many had heard about the playground's demise either that day or the previous weekend. Many criticized the city's handling of tight lipped information. The city announced that the equipment would come out the week of July 14 but didn't say what day.

Other than spectators, no city officials other than a few park employees and the contractors hired to remove it were present.

Richardson Mayor Steve Mitchell left a post on D Magazine's front burner blog today stating , "I really appreciate the opinions and concerns expressed about the Heights Park playground. As a child, I, too, played on these very playground pieces, and understand the significant symbolization that they hold for our city. Given safety concerns and required federal ADA compliance standards, we have had to take the difficult steps to repurpose the rocket ship and other playground equipment. We have taken numerous months to examine this issue, which includes the work of a task force made up of residents near the park. The good news is that the playground equipment will be preserved and reintroduced back into the Heights Park in the near future as art or icons per our park master plan. Meanwhile, we are designing a replacement playground that will only enhance the play value."

This writer was on the task force that helped make a recommendation to the city council. Not even I was informed the rocket and the iconic pieces were being removed on Monday. In fact, some of the information in the earlier Dallas Morning News story and some information I squeezed out of park employees was news to this member of the task force.

News crews swarmed around and tried to get the best shot. Of course they swarmed around families with each trying to get the best emotional angle on the story.

When the rocket was finally lowered with a crane onto the flatbed there was applause and a few watering eyes.

Last Updated: Friday, August 08, 2008

File Under: General News, Southwest, Heights Park, Living

Comments

By Ed Cognoski @ Monday, July 14, 2008 8:46 PM

Talk about bad timing. Check out the yet-to-hit-the-stands August Best of Big D issue of D Magazine. Look for what's picked as the Best Blast Off.

By Andrew Laska @ Monday, July 14, 2008 8:53 PM

Thanks Ed.
Here is the link from D Magazine's Front Burner Blog:
http://frontburner.dmagazine.com/2008/07/14/richardson-rocket-grounded/

By Andrew Laska @ Monday, July 14, 2008 9:02 PM

Here is CBS 11's coverage:
http://cbs11tv.com/local/Heights.Park.Richardson.2.771152.html

Here is WFAA Channel 8's coverage:
http://www.wfaa.com/video/index.html?nvid=263266&shu=1

Here is the Dallas Observer Blog Unfair Park:
http://blogs.dallasobserver.com/unfairpark/2008/07/from_old_heights_to_new_lows_t.php

By Bill McCormack @ Thursday, July 31, 2008 12:18 PM

The council, especially the newer members and the mayor, don't seem to care very much for input from citizens, and sure don't like to respond to emails.

By Peterk @ Wednesday, August 06, 2008 7:28 AM

"required federal ADA compliance standards"

I would be interested to know what ADA regulations the mayor is referring to. Much of ADA speaks of making a reasonable accommodation with regards to access

By Some Guy @ Saturday, August 09, 2008 3:51 PM

I am just shocked and heartbroken over this. I had read about the city's plans to update the park several months ago, and feared this would soon happen. I even called the city and the park rec. center office for more info, and of course nothing was ever clearly explained. Luckily, I took my girlfriend's daughter to the park when I first read about this, and we got to enjoy the rocket on 2 seperate visits. Then my brother from San Antonio came to town and I had met him here at the park. Once he saw the rocket, he remembered where he was and how he had first seen the park in 1977. Each one of these recent visits was very special for me. It was like time had stood still. The park looked almost exactly as I had remembered except for the updated paint jobs. There were kids running and playing all over the place. Today, my girlfriend shared the sad news with me and I had to drive there to see it for myself. I am not exaggerating when I say that there was not even 1 single person in either of the playgrounds. At first, I thought they were closing the entire park because of how completely empty it was. I got out of my car and walked to where the rocket once stood. I was in disbelief and still am. Such a sad, sad way to see a childhood memory disappear. Times are changing.

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