AUBURN – City Councilor Ron Potvin believes children who live on Northern Avenue deserve a place to play.

“I don’t think most people even realize there’s a neighborhood back here,” said Potvin, who lives at 82 Northern Ave. There are about 40 homes south of Mount Auburn Avenue, between Center Street and the Androscoggin River.

Potvin said he was approached by neighbors this spring, all residents of Northern Avenue’s Androscoggin Village Apartments, looking to get a playground built.

“Between them, they have about 40 kids and no place for them to play,” Potvin said. The children make do, playing in the trees at the center of the complex and along Northern Avenue.

“But there is no safe place for them,” Potvin said. “In fact, there’s no safe place on this side of Center Street, from East Auburn south.”

The nearest public playground is at Washburn School, on the other side of Center Street a half-mile away.

Apartment residents proposed replacing an old tennis court at the southern tip of the complex with playground equipment. That court, part of the privately owned complex, has been abandoned for at least four years and is kept locked by the managers.

Potvin said city staff is trying to contact the owners, listed as Androscoggin Village II Limited, so see if they’d be interested.

In the meantime, he’s suggesting a larger development on city land across Northern Avenue. The 9.2-acre parcel backs up to homes along North River Road, East Dartmouth and East Bates streets.

“People on those streets don’t have parks either, but they still have kids who need a place to play,” Potvin said. There’s more flexibility with the bigger lot and the city could create something for older children, in addition to a traditional tot-lot playground.

The private parcel near the apartment complex with many low-income residents could qualify for Community Development Block Grant money.

The bigger parcel could cost the city $40,000 to develop.

“We’re just in the talking stages now, investigating and seeing what’s possible,” Potvin said. “We’ll have to talk to all of the neighbors to see what they want, and then convince the rest of the council it’s a good idea. I think it’s worth the work. I think that 40 kids warrant us at least looking at it.”