GAS — Steve Robb, sometimes affectionately referred to as MacGyver for his vast ability to create whatever is needed, added another piece of playground equipment to Fees Park this week.
Robb, city superintendent, called a big orange ball made of small-dimension structural steel “a pumpkin ride.” The ride, with seats and a grab bar at top, is mounted on a wheel hub. Round and round it goes, secured by eight half-inch bolts.
“We got eight bale rings, the ones they use to make bale feeders, at Cleaver’s (Chanute) and the hub at Ray’s (Metal Recycling Depot),” Robb said.
Construction, with Brad Kress and Pat Long offering helping hands, took about weeks in the Gas employees’ spare time. Cost was $400, considerably less than what a similar piece of equipment would fetch at retail.
Robb came up with idea for the toy about three years ago, but had to shelf plans until recently because of severe illness that had him hospitalized several weeks and then homebound. “I saw a picture of one about six months, just like I was thinking about,” he said, which revived his enthusiasm.
Land for the park came as a gift, for what it holds, from the Walter and Helen Fees family — Fees was an oilman and a contemporary of Marvin Boyer and Mack Colt in the oil patch.
The park has a quarter-mile walking/jogging track and suspension bridge that is magnetic for kids. Of all in the park, only two pieces of equipment were purchased outright. The remainder, including a replacement merry-go-round, was built by Robb and his crew. Larry Robertson, a master mason and Gas councilman, built restrooms.
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The park opened in 2005. Gas residents aren’t the only users. City Clerk Rhonda Hill said travelers occasionally stop by for a snack or meal and to give their children a recreation brack.
