
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, July 1, 1993                   TAG: 9307010547
SECTION: NEIGHBORS                    PAGE: W-4   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: CHARLES STEBBINS
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

SPORTS CENTER IS SITE OF NEW PLAYGROUND

Salem officials have opened a new playground on Union Street at the entrance to the James I. Moyer Sports Complex.

The playground, similar to the one at Longwood Park, is part of a 3-acre fenced site that also includes courts for basketball and volleyball, 12 picnic tables and nine barbecue grills.

Three- to 5-year-olds from the Home Style Day Care Center attended ribbon-cutting ceremonies for the playground.

"I'm really grateful to have a park this close to our day-care center," said owner Sue Williams. Salem City Manager Randy Smith said the cost of the development so far totals about $20,000. The next step will be to build permanent toilets. Portable toilets are now in use.

Smith said the play area is open to anyone, but he thinks its primary users will be people attending events at the 35-acre Moyer complex and residents of South Salem.

Many families with small children attend events at the complex, Smith said, and until now there was little to entertain young children.

The long-term plan, he said, is to build a second play area on the other side of the Moyer complex.

by CNB