There was something to jump up and down about this week: The revamped Commons playground opened Tuesday, and scores of youngsters and their parents wasted no time breaking in the landmark attraction.
This was an exuberant moment not just because kids were reclaiming a place to safely romp and roam, indoors, in any weather. The moment also felt like a small victory — a feeling of stepping out after COVID had long locked down the place and then supply chain kinks further delayed the renovation.
Tuesday was a day to celebrate, and not just because the playground was back. There also was snowballing momentum against the worst of the pandemic. The trend lines lately for COVID cases, especially severe ones requiring hospitalization, have gone down as steeply as a playground slide.
So it was fitting that after a long, long wait, The Commons brimmed with life and laughter as the James A. Henderson Playground welcomed its first children in two years. Many of them appeared to have plenty of pent-up play to set free.
A familiar scene before the pandemic closed such facilities, the sight of dozens of kids climbing, sliding, running, chasing and jumping in The Commons space built just for them felt almost, dare we say, normal.
And it’s not just the kids who missed coming here. Three moms stood socializing just outside the playground area Tuesday, each relieved that finally, at long last, they and their children could return to a place they adore. It had been missed.
Between moms Morgan Carrillo, Gena Ebersole and Katrina Launonen, they were keeping their eyes on 12 kids who were having a day at the playground. In fairness, though, some of their older kids were doing their part watching the younger ones.
These moms have been coming to the playground for years, and Ebersole, who homeschools her children, seemed thrilled the place was open. She said it’s tough to find a kid-friendly place like this, especially in winter. Here, kids can play with abandon and feel like they own the place while parents can catch a little break.
Columbus spent about $1.2 million overhauling the playground, and these moms, pleased as they were to be back, had a few critiques. They wish more seating directly overlooked the playground as it used to. Some kids said they missed features that are no longer part of the playground they remember.
But those quibbles are minor. The truth is, The Commons, and the playground within, are huge draws for downtown, and not just among locals. Ebersole and Launonen, for instance, live in Franklin, Ebersole in Morgantown. They came here for opening day, and they’ve been coming for years because there’s nothing else quite like it.
Launonen, whose family relocated from New York following a job transfer, said the playground at the Commons was actually a big selling point in their relocation decision. “In New York, we’ve never seen something like that. It’s just awesome,” she said.
She also noted that she and the kids also usually stop by Zaharakos and support other businesses nearby when they visit, so this playground isn’t all just fun and games. A gem like the Commons playground is also serious business, and a charming part of what makes Columbus a place where people want to be.
