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Taking The First Steps

Tribune photo by JAMIE PILARCZYK

While holding daughter Emma, Jennifer Zumarraga, left, pushes daughter Katherine, 3, on the swings with neighbor Katie Guice, right, who pushes her son, Rylan. The two are fundraising to build a toddler playground at Ballast Point Park.

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By JAMIE PILARCZYK

The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 3, 2008

BALLAST POINT - Jennifer Zumarraga has her hands full when she takes her children to Ballast Point Park.

She barely finishes helping 3-year-old Katherine up the jungle gym before having to run, mid-sentence, to stop Emma, 2, from taking off after the older children running around the park.

"It's so dangerous," Zumarraga said.

She is among the parents joining the Ballast Point Neighborhood Association's fundraising effort to build a separate toddler playground at the park, 5300 Interbay Blvd.

"Going to the park is a lot of work for the parents," said Katie Guice, who is leading the fundraising efforts with her 22-month-old son, Rylan, in mind. "It's a great park, but it's definitely lacking in toddler-friendly play areas."

The city spent about $400,000 for park improvements completed in 2006, including a space-travel-themed playground. In May, the city council approved $600,000 in additional improvements, including an interactive water feature.

The city is set this month to begin a $1 million renovation to the pier, and landscape architect Karla Price said the final phase of park improvements should start in the spring.

The park master plan, created by city staff and residents in 2001, did not include a separate playground for toddlers. Guice approached the city in June with the request for one.

"There are large holes, gaps in the playground equipment where the kids could fall," she said. "You see a lot of parents on the equipment watching after their kids. It's nerve-racking."

The city said her request could be accommodated but that she would have to come up with most of the funding.

The city agreed to reallocate $5,000 from the park budget to do site preparation for the toddler playground. Residents are starting to raise the additional $21,000 needed by January, beginning with a dinner Sept. 21.

The plan calls for a 30-by-30-foot toddler playground to be built northwest of the current playground. It would include play equipment, a climbing wall, a canopy and child-size picnic tables.

Guice hopes to have the playground built during the construction planned for the spring. If parents and residents raise only part of their goal, they will prioritize their wish list.

IF YOU GO

WHAT: Ballast Point Neighborhood Association fundraising dinner for a toddler playground at Ballast Point Park

WHEN: 5 to 10 p.m. Sept. 21

WHERE: Cellini Restaurant, 5427 Bayshore Blvd.; a portion of proceeds from sales benefits the park project.

CONTACT: Call Katie Guice at (813) 813-784-4897, e-mail bptotlot@yahoo.com or go to www.ballastpoint.org.

Reporter Jamie Pilarczyk can be reached at (813) 259-7661 or jpilarczyk@tampatrib.com.

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