The playground equipment at Clearwater Beach will be replaced, the Bermuda Land Development Company (BLDC) said yesterday.

It was demolished by the Department of Parks at the weekend.

BLDC media relations officer Richard Calderon claimed that there was no agreement with Parks to tear down the old jungle gym. "I am not at liberty to discuss it, but we are committed to continue that service and we are planning to cater to children with a similar project," said Mr. Calderon.

"(St. David's MP Suzann) Mrs. Holshouser is correct the playground equipment was removed by Parks and it was not in consultation with BLDC and we have arranged to meet them (today)."

But Department of Parks' park planner Andrew Pettit claimed that the playground was torn down by agreement between the two agencies.

"A decision was taken in November with the BLDC to tear down the old jungle gym," said Mr. Pettit.

Mr. Pettit noted that Hurricane Fabian finished what was left of the old playground and it was in poor condition.

"We couldn't get replacement parts for it because the manufacturer had gone out of business," said Mr. Pettit.

"There was rust everywhere and we thought it would be safer to pull it down because of the safety of play equipment ? it was a decision on both parts for liability reasons."

Mrs. Holshouser was pleased with the news, but questioned how long it would take for the BLDC to replace the jungle gym.

"I think this is wonderful news for the children of the area, however I am hoping that it would be soon," said Mrs. Holshouser is also UBP Shadow Minister of Women's Affairs.

"Now that the days are getting longer the children in St. David's need somewhere to play," said Mrs. Holshouser.

"Where are parents going to take their children? There are single mothers living on Tommy Fox Road ? everyone does not have a yard to play in.

"In the winter or the summer there was always someone playing in that park.

"It wasn't in that bad shape. I was there with my son last week.

"It was in perfect condition for my children."

Mr. Pettit said since Hurricane Fabian area had been closed and that was the reason they did not notify the public about the demolition.

"We have had big park closed signs," he said. "We didn't see it as our responsibility (to notify the public)."

Initially Mrs. Holshouser thought the Parks Department pulled the jungle gym down to replace it, but she said: "I found that was not the case."

"The land is part of the Bermuda Land Development Company (BLDC) property, but the park and playground was being maintained by Parks," said Mrs. Holshouser.

Mr. Pettit said Clearwater is not a national park and it does not come under the responsibility of Parks, but if the BLDC decide to build another jungle gym they will work with them.

He explained: "It is not our responsibility to build another one."

Mr. Pettit said it was a shame that it had to come down, but it was a part of the base and had been up since Hurricane Emily and had suffered sand, salt and wind erosion. He said: "We have play equipment at Parsons Road (Pembroke) and Warwick Long Bay. They are very good and this equipment holds up well in Bermuda conditions, they are built of a combination of wood and stainless steel.

"The parts are easy to replace and several of our workers have had training with this equipment."

Mr. Pettit said Clearwater Beach was man made in the 1940s and 50s and the area suffers from drainage problems, flooding and storm surges.

"The water just comes up over the sand dunes and settles," said Mr. Pettit. "We work on pushing the sand up to create higher dunes."