ARIANNA MCKEE/THE EXPRESS The Tiger Den playground, located near the former Dickey Elementary, has remained closed since October due to a number of safety concerns identified by city staff.

LOCK HAVEN — Safety concerns have caused the closure of the Tiger Den playground while staff look for ways to address these issues.

An update on the park, which was closed in October 2025, was provided to Lock Haven City Council on Monday night, with staff requesting council provide a direction in which it would like to see resources directed.

City Planner/Interim Manager Abbey Roberts told council the decision to keep the park closed came after a comprehensive review of all parks by Community Life Director Kasey Dumm, who is a certified playground safety inspector.

“The Tiger Den is a larger comprehensive project that we wanted to bring to council’s attention,” she said, noting the city addressed concerns in Hanna Park — the removal of unsafe equipment — and other park concerns elsewhere within the city.

Roberts said it was staff’s recommendation the park remain closed until the following safety concerns were addressed:

— Bringing the surfacing up to compliance. Depth of Engineered Wood Fiber must be greater than nine inches to accommodate fall height compliance.

— The tube slide will need to be replaced, as there are head entrapment risks, unsteady structure and missing bolts on the support beam.

— Many head entrapment risks were identified on the structure that would need to be closed within 3.5 inches.

— The swing bays have seats that would need to be replaced, S-hooks closed and refortified. It is recommended the swing bays be removed.

— Several broken platforms will need joists replaced and leveled, exposed nails removed.

— Exposed nails must be removed from play structure.

— Broken panels in the boat play structure will need to be replaced due to head entrapment risks.

Dumm noted to council both at the meeting and in her report she had contacted the original contractor for the project, Leather & Associates, for quotes to replace portions of the equipment but hadn’t heard back yet.

She noted the average life expectancy of a wooden playground is 10 to 20 years, with the Tiger Den entering its 19th.

During the meeting, she told council the average cost for the fall surface is between $15,000 to $20,000 and there would be a maintenance cost to consider.

Councilmember Heather Alexander asked if there were any calls to the city or to members of council regarding the park remaining closed.

Dumm said she hadn’t received any calls personally, but did see comments via social media.

Councilmember Tami Brannan said she’d heard from residents about the park being closed.

“I’ve explained we closed it in October based on these recommendations and that I would give them an update after this meeting,” she said.

Mayor Joel Long said he’d also received questions and comments about the park being closed.

Roberts said city staff were looking for a direction from council on how they wished to proceed regarding the park.

Councilmember Barb Masorti said she’d received comments, particularly regarding the ownership many residents take for the park.

The park, which was owned by the Keystone Central School District until the closure of nearby Dickey Elementary School in 2019, was built entirely by volunteers who also raised the funding for the park.

“I think a lot of people have personal feelings about it because it was an elementary school project and the local community contributed money for the project at the time it was done,” she said.

Long, who along with Alexander served on a committee at the time of the Tiger Den’s construction, said that was a large part of the history of the park.

“It ended up being a $100,000 project that was all raised and 1,200 volunteers that built it over five days. So there’s ownership there,” he said.

Long suggested council direct staff to gather information about costs to repair the park and costs regarding a new park.

Councilmember Rick Conklin noted the playground is heavily used and noted, though the public was able to fundraise to handle the initial construction, upkeep can be difficult as well.

“However much I’d love to see it open, there are too many deficiencies there to have people in there. I think we need to see some numbers. Once we see those I think we can make a decision,” he said.

Long added those numbers can be shared with the public.

“They donated to help build it, so maybe they’d want to contribute again,” he said.

Along with finding cost estimates for repairs versus a new playground, Masorti suggested staff look into the cost for including a dog park in the area.

“Given the way people do not clean up after their dogs in the city now, I don’t know if we can trust to have a park but a lot of people ask about having one,” she said.

Conklin noted most parks he’s visited in towns outside of Clinton County are often maintained by volunteers.

“If people with dogs really want it, they’re going to have to take some intentional responsibility,” she said.

Council will hold off on making a decision regarding the park, which remains closed, until it hears from staff.