By Jason Klaiber

Staff Writer

The refurbished playground in Ellis Field Park in East Syracuse was unveiled during a ribbon cutting ceremony on Sept. 24.

The recently completed resurfacing project at the playground saw the replacement of the wood chip base with a mulch rubber base.

The $60,193 project, which commenced midway through the summer, also entailed the expansion of the new surfacing right to the edges of each confined playground area separated by grass.

Robert Tackman, the mayor of East Syracuse, said it took over a month to dig out the wood chips with hand shovels before village crews laid down the rubber sleeve and poured in the new mulch.

“We’re excited this is finally done,” Tackman said. “It seems like a simple thing, but to us it’s huge.”

Tackman said the rubber mulch creates a “great aesthetic look” and a more absorbent surface than wood chips to better protect children who fall to the ground.

“It’s certainly a great product,” Tackman said.

Onondaga County provided a roughly $46,000 grant for the community development project.

“Without that grant, this project would not have been possible,” Tackman said. “We would’ve been continuing the wood chips year after year until we found a way to fund it.”

Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon said the park at 512 McCool Ave. serves as a resource for the surrounding community.

“Villages are small cities, and with small cities, neighborhoods are the backbone,” McMahon said. “This is an asset for these neighborhoods, so we’re happy to partner. We need safe, accessible parks in our villages.”

Tackman and McMahon helped a group of local children hold and cut the ribbon that lined one side of the playground.

The children then scattered onto the playground to play on such equipment as swing sets, slides and monkey bars.

“We are excited for the children to have a cleaner and safer place to play,” Tackman said.

A sign in the park reads that the playground has been designed for children ages five to 12, also recommending adult supervision.