Pepin Park playground reopens

Editor’s note: This article clarifies the amount of time the playground was closed. A photo caption published Tuesday said playground had been closed for a week.

After being cordoned off with caution tape for a brief period, the playground at Havre’s Pepin Park is again open to the public.

Mike Eekhoff, whose Lawntree Services company has been working on trees adjacent to the park, said the playground is available to any parents and children willing to brave the cold. This comes less than a week after his workers had to close off the area.

Eekhoff said families were playing in the park last week while his workers were trimming branches late last week, which posed a safety issue and prompted them to block off the area to avoid any accidents.

“We don’t want anybody getting hurt, plus it’s a liability,” he said. “It’s a concern, especially with us working 70 feet in the air.”

Eekhoff said his crew should be completely finished working on the trees at Parkview Apartments by January 24, and he added that all the wood from the trees is being given away for free, and anybody is welcome to collect some.

“None of that wood is going to the landfill,” he said.