This strip planting along the south side of the Playground is/was filled with Fothergilla gardenii which is heavily used at this end of the Park. It is either stomped out or suffering from soil conditions and reflected heat from the hard surface. Additionally, people walk up to the fence. Many of us argue that high activity areas, such as playgrounds, should not have adjacent plantings especially any that may be brittle. The fence is intended to contain playing children. The sand in the play area is continuously being scattered in to this bed burying the crowns of the plants. Though a little wider than the strip bed on the north side it still suffers next to the hard surface with the playground curb, though there are fewer pipes and conduits here. For some reason this Gingko tree was planted just a few inches from the fence. What happens to the fence when/if the tree grows to mature size?