LANGLEY — They came. They saw. They loved it.

Dozens of children and their parents were on hand Saturday as the iconic Castle Park in South Whidbey Community Park was officially reopened after being closed for repairs this past winter.

Combining new construction materials and attractions with a hint of the original wood structure, the playground’s new look was appreciated by those who use it most.

“The kids are having a great time; I’m glad the parks people did something,” Duane Hunt of Freeland said. “They got rid of the scary, more dangerous parts, and no one will get any splinters.”

Hunt watched as his kids, Lilliauna and Caleb, played on the slider and took a magical mystery tour on the new make-believe boat.

The South Whidbey Parks & Recreation District spent $300,000 to replace most of the wood of the original Castle Park with Trex, a combination of reclaimed wood and plastic fibers.

Castle Park was first built by community volunteers in 1991, but the horizontal wooden parts had deteriorated through the years from weather damage and the added wear-and-tear of thousands of children using the playground.

Local builder Mike Skouras said the plastic material — which should last for more than 30 years — shields the wood from moisture and insect damage, preventing rotting and splintering.

“Wood protects the plastic from ultra-violet damage while providing a natural, attractive look and feel,” he said.

Vertical posts, name signs and the intricate artwork done by Clinton sculptor Georgia Gerber have been sanded and sealed with a clear finish, so they’ll last for years to come.

“We saved or recycled as much of the original wood as possible,” Skouras noted.

Cedar specialist Jeff Smith created holes in the wooden upright supports for boron rods. The non-toxic rods, which look like clear glue sticks, detect moisture in the wood and wick it away. Smith plans to make random checks over the next few years and replace the rods as required.

“It’s a simple fix for wood in wet climates,” Smith said. “Which Whidbey certainly has.”

On hand for the event were Island County Commissioner Helen Price Johnson, Parks Commissioners Don Wood, Linda Kast, Matt Simms and Jim Porter and parks director Terri Arnold.

“This place will be here long after all of us are gone,” Porter said. “The kids on Whidbey are going to love it.”

Simms kept his remarks short and to the point.

“This is for the kids,” he said. “Let’s go play.”