Metro Atlanta City Council votes that climbing wall inside rec center will stay – WSB-TV Channel 2

COLLEGE PARK, Ga. — The College Park City Council voted Friday to keep the climbing wall in its current location inside the Tracey Wyatt Recreation Center.

Last month, Channel 2 Action News reported that the council voted unanimously to grant the city manager a $60,000 budget to investigate the location of the wall.

College Park taxpayers asked why, but received few answers.

“I don’t think there’s a legitimate reason for this wall to come down,” Shekita James said.

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James’ little boy climbs the wall and attends summer climbing camps at the rec center.

“Safety is not a factor. Experts judged this wall to be safe. We have the technology to make this wall secure. I absolutely don’t think it should go down.

Professional climber Kai Lightner’s nonprofit, Climbing for Change, and a second nonprofit called 1Climb donated the wall after securing $100,000 from Adidas in 2020.

The aim was to provide free access to sport to more children.

In 2021, city leaders were present for the groundbreaking and the wall was functioning.

In April, Lightner said she received an email from Recreation and Cultural Arts Director Michelle Johnson asking how much it would cost to remove the wall.

“I’ve never heard a complaint. So my first question was why,” Lightner said. “No one would tell me why or give me an answer.”

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City Council Director Dr. Emmanuel O. Adediran’s $60,000 budget was intended to “take the best administrative measures to determine the relocation of the rock wall, investigate the wall and decide where it should be moved.”

“Not a single safety issue has ever been reported on this wall,” Lightner said. “Everything is in tip-top shape and we intentionally partnered with Stone Summit, the local gym, because they treat that facility as a partner location.

Lightner said Stone Summit maintains the wall, modifies the routes to keep them interesting and teaches recreation center staff how the harnesses work.

There are no certification requirements because the wall uses self-belay technology to prevent the climber from falling too fast or too hard.

Courtney Francisco, Channel 2 Action News reporter I have spoken to people outside the leisure center who have used the wall before.

“I got up safely. I got down safely and without problems,” said Joan Allen.

“If you had someone reliable to guide you up and down the rope, I think more people would like to climb on it for exercise,” Regina Gibbs said.

“There is a system called self-belaying that allows you to do the up and down movement without it happening quickly, without the need for a spotter,” James said.

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The wall costs the city about $34 a year in insurance, Lightner said.

To ask why anyone would want to remove the wall and to clarify the council’s latest directive to investigate it, Channel 2 Action News contacted the mayor, city council members, city manager, two people from the communications department and the man after whom the recreation center is named, Tracey Wyatt.

Lightner said removing the wall and moving it to another location would not be financially effective. He said it could cost more than $100,000.

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