The Himmel Park playground is getting a makeover, which includes new equipment and shade.
The midtown playground — on the west side of the park — will close Wednesday, June 6 and reopen in mid-September.
Don't panic, though. That crazy steep metal slide everybody loves will remain.
"We are only removing one swing set and a little piece of equipment," said Sierra Boyer, community promotions and marketing manager for Tucson Parks and Recreation. "The other equipment (the slide, a swing, and monkey bars) have been deemed historic and will remain, but will be refurbished."
The new playground costs $272,000 and is being funded by the city's Impact Fees.
Himmel has been on the list to receive this money for years, Boyer said.
The makeover is long overdue, since the playground has been there at least since the 70's.
The proposed layout of the new Himmel Park playground.
Proposed upgrades include shade, a play structure for children ages 2-5, a play structure for children ages 5-12, drums, new benches, picnic tables and drinking fountains and a digging area with a fixed digging shovel.
The new structure for older kids includes cool features like climbing walls, a plank bridge, slides and a snake pole to name a few.
Drawings of the new structures for children ages 5 to 12 years old.
The younger kids will have a wave slide, stone climber, an animal crawl-through and an abacus panel, among other things.
Drawings of the new play structures for children ages 2 to 5 years old that will be installed at Himmel Park.
The playground near the library will remain as is.
