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Most of the two dozen people testifying on a resolution to place a large playground in Soldotna Creek Park favored the location, but it took a tie-breaking vote of the mayor to put the measure over the top nonetheless.

A last-minute attempt to change the location to Farnsworth or Sunrise parks also wound up in a 3-3 tie of the Soldotna City Council members, but in accordance with Roberts Rules of Order, a tie vote on an amendment is a failed vote, unless the chair chooses to cast a tie-breaking vote. Mayor Peter Micciche abstained from voting on the amendment offered by Councilwoman Betty Obendorf.

A group of mothers -- largely from outside the Soldotna city limits -- organized as the Soldotna Community Playground, approached the city three months ago with the idea of raising money for and erecting a super playground on city land if Soldotna would donate a 12,000 square-foot parcel for the project.

The playground, similar to custom-designed playgrounds in Seward, Girdwood and Talkeetna, would carry a price tag of $250,000.

Themes such as the northern lights, a pipeline tunnel, a fishing boat and a time line of Alaska statehood would brighten the days of central Kenai Peninsula tots.

A plastic composite playground with ramps and stairs, slides and mazes in imagination-stimulating shapes of boats, drums and wild animals is being envisioned by the moms for the center of town in Soldotna. The playground would be designed by Leathers and Associates from upstate New York, the firm that designed playgrounds in Seward, Girdwood and Talkeetna as well as Haines, Juneau and nearly 200 other places throughout the United States and in other countries. All Leathers' designers are certified in playground safety.

The playground would be built by community volunteers.

Obendorf had previously questioned the proposed location of the playground in Soldotna Creek Park, which underwent a series of meetings and public hearings resulting recently in a conceptual design posing the park as a showpiece for the city.

Opponents to the playground being placed in Soldotna Creek Park expressed fears that children would need to cross the busy Sterling Highway to get to the playground, and feared that the playground is too near the fast moving Kenai River -- another danger.

At Wednesday's council meeting, some said the proposed location of the playground toward the east end of the park also presented the danger of "strange men coming out of the woods," and said the odor of decaying salmon in the river was not conducive to children playing.

Dana McDonald, general coordinator for Soldotna Community Playground, said the city's director of Parks and Recreation suggested Soldotna Creek Park when her group first approached the city with the playground idea.

In the ensuing three months, McDonald said she met 11 times with city officials ranging from city administration to the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board to the city council.

She said Soldotna Creek Park is the only site that will provide all the group seeks for families in Soldotna.

Matthew Cook said other parks being considered -- Farnsworth and Sunrise -- "are neighborhood parks. This is a community park."

The distinction was that other parks in Soldotna are tucked into specific neighborhoods and park users tend to reside in those neighborhoods. Soldotna Creek Park, however, is not in a residential neighborhood, but rather is central to the greater Soldotna community.

In testifying against the Soldotna Creek Park location for the playground, Linda Hutchings, chair of the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, differed, saying Farnsworth Park is a community park, not a neighborhood park.

Although the proponents offered little more for preferring Soldotna Creek Park, all seven people testifying against it had specific reasons for their opposition ranging from river and highway traffic danger to the city's legal liability in the case of accidents.

After nearly two hours of public testimony, Obendorf was joined by Councilmen Shea Hutchings and Shane Horan in recommending the playground be placed in Farnsworth Park.

Councilmen Jim Stogsdill, Scott McLane and Ed Sleater preferred Soldotna Creek Park.

Saying his family uses Soldotna Creek Park, Micciche said, "We mitigate risks in all of our parks. My vote is a yes (for Soldotna Creek Park."

Now it is up to the Soldotna Community Playground to raise $250,000 to buy the equipment from Leathers and Associates.

In addition to donating the play equipment, the playground group said it would give the city $15,000 to $20,000 to start a fund for continued needs of the playground.

Phil Hermanek can be reached at phillip.hermanek@peninsulaclarion.com.