If you’ve ever wanted your child to experience the existential dread of being the only kid with a swing in a post-apocalyptic wasteland, head over to Ernest Butler Park on the East Side. It’s a local landmark, mostly because it currently looks like the set of a low-budget movie about a society that forgot how to maintain playground equipment.
Our very own Parks and Recreation Director, Colby VanGundy, recently confirmed what everyone with eyes already knew: Butler Park is officially the lowest-rated playground in the entire city. But don’t worry, he’s quick to point out that “lowest-rated” doesn’t necessarily mean “unsafe.” It just means it’s a “character-building” obstacle course where the yellow caution tape is basically part of the aesthetic.
The City’s plan for fixing this eyesore is the municipal equivalent of “the check is in the mail.” Apparently, Butler Park is “Number One” on the list for a makeover, but—oops!—the sales tax revenue took a dive. So, while 13 other playgrounds across the city already got their shiny upgrades, the kids in District 2 get to wait indefinitely for the City Council to find some spare change under the couch cushions.
While community leaders like Phyllis Gant point out the glaring, historical neglect of East Lubbock, the City insists that geographic bias is just a “misconception.” They’re totally colorblind when it comes to grading equipment; it’s just a total coincidence that the “grading system” always seems to leave the East Side looking like a 1974 time capsule that’s been left out in the rain.
But hey, they did take down the old volleyball net to replace it, because nothing says “we’re a world-class city” quite like removing the one thing that wasn’t actively trying to give a toddler a splinter.
Is it really a budget shortfall, or is the City just waiting for the equipment to fully biodegrade so they can call it a “natural meadow”?
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