Salem families have a new place to play along the waterfront. Riverfront Park's rebuilt playground opened Friday, October 9, with a three-level climbing tower, swings, musical instruments and a few surprises hidden throughout the park.
One of those surprises turns a trip to the playground into a scavenger hunt.
Near the entrance, children will find riddles built into the concrete. Each riddle offers clues about an animal, and once kids figure out the answer, they can search the playground for a matching plaque.
Kyle Harder, project manager for Salem-based Dalke Construction, said the idea is to make the playground more interactive. For example, children who solve the beaver riddle can look for a hidden beaver plaque at the Beaver Dam, a climbing area made from logs. QR codes also offer more information about the animals and the ideas behind the design.
And there's plenty to do beyond the scavenger hunt.
The playground has a smaller climbing structure for younger children and a much larger, three-level tower for older kids. There are also swings, a spinner similar to a merry-go-round, a four-person seesaw, musical chimes and drums.
Other features include a bamboo-inspired play area and the Eagle's Nest, a wooden structure shaped like a giant bird's nest that children can climb inside.
The City of Salem designed the playground with accessibility in mind, making it easier for children of different abilities to play together. The new space includes accessible turf, an enclosed play area, wider paths and a bridge that provides access to the upper level of the main climbing structure.
The improvements aren't limited to the playground. A new walking path connects the area behind the carousel toward the riverfront. Electrical upgrades throughout the park will also allow vendors at future events to plug directly into power outlets instead of bringing generators.
The city previously estimated the project would cost approximately $2.53 million, including the playground and related improvements.
Dalke Construction served as the project's general contractor, with the city providing the playground equipment. The company has another connection to Riverfront Park, having previously built the nearby Gerry Frank | Salem Rotary Amphitheater.
"It's pretty special to us because we did the Gerry Frank amphitheater down there. And so it's nice to kind of keep giving back to the community with these park projects," Harder said.
Scott Dalke, vice president and project manager at Dalke Construction, also spoke about the company's connection to the waterfront.
"It's really nice to be part of the waterfront. We've done a lot of work down there, and it's great to be part of this project," Dalke said.
The new playground is now open at Riverfront Park, 200 Water St. NE, in downtown Salem. The city is also planning a larger grand-opening celebration following Friday's soft opening.
For Harder, one of the best moments came Friday morning, when he stopped by the playground as it opened.
"Like this morning, I went down there when they first opened it up," Harder said. "I gotta watch the first two kids go play on it, and it's like, for me, it's rewarding to be able to see, you know, people enjoy what we're building."