Is KJKP Park implementing the KS Government's Decree: Who maintains and ensures the safety of children's and sports playgrounds

In May 2016, the Government of Sarajevo Canton, at the proposal of the Ministry of Communal Economy and Infrastructure, adopted the Decree on the arrangement and maintenance of green and recreational areas in the Sarajevo Canton. KJKP Park is responsible for management, however, the situation on the ground is confusing, and municipalities are unclear about their obligations towards parks and children's playgrounds, writes the Patria agency.

The Decree, which has been in force since the beginning of June 2016, states that the competent utility company takes over the maintenance of newly built public green areas from the owner, as well as recreational areas, children's and sports playgrounds.

Article 14 stipulates that the competent utility company takes over children's and sports playgrounds along with all investment and technical documentation.

What is confusing in the decree is the contradiction of some articles. Thus, Article 21 stipulates that financial resources for the removal of defective children's equipment, play equipment, sports equipment and protective fences are provided by the municipalities in the Sarajevo Canton, and that the municipalities will install new equipment after which the utility company will take over the maintenance.

Article 15 stipulates that funds for the maintenance of children's and sports playgrounds will be provided within the funds for the maintenance of public green areas in the Budget of Sarajevo Canton. However, according to this decree, the largest part of the work is again on the municipalities, which remove defective equipment, procure new ones and install them. The question arises as to what the term "maintenance" means for which KJKP Park is responsible.

The Ministry of Communal Economy and Infrastructure and Minister Senad Hasanspahić, at whose proposal the Decree was adopted, should provide an answer. However, the minister did not answer the calls of NAP journalists today, and the Ministry stated that we should "try on Monday".

This Decree was adopted after a tragedy that occurred at a playground in Dobrinja in the fall of 2015, when a child died after a goal structure collapsed on him. The Decree was intended to ensure safer places for children. But, to this day, that has not happened. One might say that the Decree works on paper, but not on the ground.

KJKP Park did not respond to the questions we asked them. We asked them how many children's and sports playgrounds they manage and what their obligations are. Also, they did not answer the question of whether they have money for current maintenance, i.e., whether funds were allocated from the KS Budget. Otherwise, KJKP Park's obligation is to create a maintenance plan in agreement with the municipalities in the KS area, which is submitted to the competent ministry.

According to this Decree, KJKP Park is also responsible for installing information boards in a visible place, with data on the name and purpose of the playground, data on equipment and props, the name of the investor and the legal entity maintaining the playgrounds. The boards must also contain a contact phone number for reporting broken or defective equipment and props, the contact phone number of the Cantonal and municipal inspectorates, and a note that the equipment and props are used at your own risk. These boards have not been installed either.