SODDY DAISY, Tenn. (WDEF) – For more than 30 years, Scramble Alley has been a place for children to play. Now, the longtime playground is set to come down.
The City of Soddy-Daisy announced the playground at Scramble Alley will close and be torn down no later than June 8th, saying it had been kept open as long as possible.
In a Facebook post, the city called the decision one “a lot of us have dreaded” while thanking volunteers who helped raise money and build the playground decades ago.
According to the post, a survey sent out more than a year ago found most respondents believed it was time for the aging structure to be removed.
What replaces the playground remains unclear.
The city said it has applied twice for the BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee Playground Grant without success and continues to explore future options.
According to the announcement, building an entirely new playground at Scramble Alley is estimated to cost more than $350,000, while adding playground structures at Veterans Park was estimated at about $120,000.
The city also said it is working with a consultant on a Parks and Recreation Master Plan, which is required to pursue funding through the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation.
For now, Scramble Alley is expected to close after serving the community for more than three decades as discussions continue about future park options.
