After a series of unsuccessful repairs to its outdated equipment, the playground at Hanson Park in Bow is set to receive a major upgrade with the replacement of its play set.

David Stack, the town manager, explained that the playground equipment had aged beyond compliance with current safety codes.

He estimates that the equipment is at least 15 to 20 years old.

In 2022, routine inspections revealed that the playground structure’s protective coating was severely deteriorated, raising safety concerns.

To address this, town staff dismantled the problematic decking and resurfaced it indoors during the winter of 2022. But issues continued to persist.

“Unfortunately, this was a short-term fix and lasted less than a year,” said Stack in an email statement.

The town’s insurance carrier, Primex, flagged additional hazards, including head entrapment risks, which further underscored the need for a complete replacement.

With the old playground equipment dismantled on July 30 due to worsening conditions, including a cracked slide and other emerging hazards, the town is moving forward with a new playground construction.

Utiplay, a New England-based recreation facilities construction company, has been chosen from three proposals the town received to build the new playground. The project, costing $42,712, is part of the Town’s Capital Improvements Plan for FY2023-24.

Installation of the new playground is scheduled to start on September 24 and is expected to be completed within three days.

While the new playground will resemble the old one, it will now comply with the 2010 ADA standards.