On Nov. 18, 2025, the Oxford Board of Alderman voted to move forward with the reconstruction of the Avent Park playground. The original wooden structure on Park Drive has been there since the mid 1990s. OHS senior Darden Crowe has lived near the park her whole life.
“[Growing up,] we would meet with our neighbors because we live down the street from the park,” Darden Crowe said. “We would play cops and robbers and hide and seekall throughout the park. When it would snow, we would go sledding and it was always fun.”
The original playground was constructed by Playgrounds by Leathers and was designed to last 15-20 years. Many started to raise safety concerns over the structure as it was past its life expectancy. Seth Gaines, the Executive Director of the Oxford Park Commission, led the venture to replace the structure in late summer of 2024.
“The playground wood was rotten, and it was becoming a hazard to keep allowing kids to play on it,” Gaines said. “We put out an RFP (Request for Proposal) for a new playground and told potential playground companies that we would like to see options for a wood/composite structure.”
Concerns over accessibility were also expressed. The previous structure was not accommodating to children with disabilities. Alderman at large, Mary Martha Crowe voted to rebuild the playground.
“The new playground is more inclusive,” M. Crowe said. “The old playground had a lot of mulch. Wheelchairs couldn’t get through it. Children, or even caretakers who brought children to the park, who had mobility problems, couldn’t get through it. We talked to parents in the community who have children with special needs to see what would be best so able bodied kids can play next to children who aren’t as mobile.”
The new playground will be 75% ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) accessible largely due to the pour in play surfacing being added. The city received eight bids for the construction and voted to move forward with Planet Recess. The company is based out of Baton Rogue, La. and has playgrounds in Mississippi and Louisiana.
Many community members were in opposition of building a new playground due to how unique the mainly wood playground was. The city is working to commemorate the old playground.
“Only one [bid] had a wood structure, but the committee that was formed didn’t think it was the best option,” Gaines said. “A committee was put together with members of the city staff and public board members of the park commission. We saved many items of the wooden playground and they are at the [City] shop being worked on to be put back at Avent Park.”
The initial phase of the playground is expected to cost $500,000. The design will allow the city to add on to the playground in the future.
“It is bittersweet,” D. Crowe said. “I think it’s needed for safety reasons, and I am glad that they are accommodating for disabilities, but I think it’s sad because it’s something new. The old playground has been there my whole life.”
