Taxpayers in College Park are questioning the city council’s decision to allocate $60,000 for an investigation into relocating a climbing wall at the Tracey Wyatt Recreational Center.
According to Shekita James, there is no legitimate reason for the wall to be taken down.
James’ young son enjoys climbing on the wall and participates in summer climbing camps at the rec center.
“The safety of the wall is unquestionable. Experts have thoroughly evaluated and confirmed its stability. The advanced technology employed in constructing this wall ensures its utmost safety. Personally, I firmly believe that there are no grounds for its removal.”
Professional climber Kai Lightner, through his non-profit organization Climbing for Change, along with another non-profit called 1Climb, generously donated the wall. This remarkable contribution was made possible by securing a substantial $100,000 donation from Adidas in 2020.
The aim was to provide more children with free access to the sport.
In 2021, city leaders attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the successful completion and functioning of the wall.
In April, Director of Recreation & Cultural Arts Michelle Johnson reached out to Lightner via email, inquiring about the cost of removing the wall.
According to Lightner, when she initially raised the issue, she was met with silence. “I never heard a complaint. So, my first question was why,” Lightner explained. “Nobody wanted to tell me why or give me a response.”
In May, the City Council made a decision to allocate a budget of $60,000 to Dr. Emmanuel O. Adediran, the City Manager. The purpose of this budget is to support him in conducting a thorough investigation on the relocation of the rock wall. Dr. Adediran will be responsible for assessing the situation and making informed administrative decisions regarding the appropriate new location for the wall.
According to Lightner, there have been zero safety issues reported regarding this wall. He emphasized that the wall is in impeccable condition and that they intentionally collaborated with Stone Summit, the local gym, because they view this facility as a sister location.
According to Lightner, Stone Summit takes responsibility for the maintenance of the wall and ensures that the routes are constantly updated to keep them engaging. Additionally, they provide training to the rec center staff on how to properly use the harnesses.
The wall does not have any certification requirements as it utilizes auto-belay technology to ensure that climbers are protected from falling too quickly or forcefully.
Courtney Francisco, a reporter from Channel 2 Action News, interviewed individuals who have previously utilized the wall outside the recreation center.
Joan Allen expressed her relief and gratitude as she shared, “I was able to navigate the ascent and descent without any issues. I am thankful that I made it safely both ways.”
Regina Gibbs believes that having someone to safely guide individuals as they climb up and down the rope would encourage more people to engage in this form of exercise.
James explained that there is a system called auto belay that enables a smooth and controlled up and down motion without the need for a spotter.
As of Thursday evening, there are still unanswered questions.
According to Lightner, it would not be cost-effective to remove the wall and relocate it elsewhere. He estimates that such a move could cost upwards of $40,000.
