Upgrade set for playgrounds (03/04/2009)

Area youngsters will have some new equipment to play on at city parks this summer.

Members of a local board voted Tuesday to purchase new playground equipment for Weiler-Wilson and Milton Miller parks. The equipment will replace older playground equipment that no longer meets safety standards.

The equipment for the parks includes adult and toddler swings, slides, tunnels and climbing walls. Total cost is $53,500. The equipment will be purchased from Child's-Play, Fishers.

Delivery is expected to take four to six weeks, and installation will take about a week, Jeff Harker, street and park department superintendent, said after Tuesday's Portland Park Board meeting.

The city also received quotes from GameTime, Holland, Mich., and Snider and Associates Inc., North Royalton, Ohio. GameTime submitted a total quote of $53,268, and Snider quoted a total of $51,410.

Although Child's-Play submitted the highest quote, Harker recommended it be approved because, "You get more bang for your buck."

The price submitted by Child's-Play was for much more equipment that what the other two companies were offering, Harker said.

Before voting, board member Kent McClung said he was glad the city would be replacing the playground equipment at Weiler-Wilson Park, which is located near Portland Pool. McClung, who is in his 40s, said he remembers playing on the current equipment when he was a child.

Also Tuesday, board members briefly discussed the fact that the deadline for completion of Hudson Family Park is approaching, but funding for the remaining work has not yet been secured.

"We're looking at a deadline," McClung said. "We should work on how to build the lake and amphitheater without federal funding."

The city has until the summer of 2010 to complete the amphitheater and lake - the most costly aspects of the park project - or the donated land will be given to Arts Place.

Bruce Hosier, mayor of Portland, said this morning that the city has applied for stimulus funds for the park project. The city also is hoping to get federal funds earmarked for the project. If both fall through, Hosier said he has another plan in mind.

"We are attempting every funding opportunity for the park project," Hosier said. "I'm very optimistic that things will be fine."

"I want to keep an eye on (the situation)," McClung said Tuesday night.

In other business, board members:

•Voted to purchase new drain covers for the Portland Pool at a total cost of $3,503.46.

Harker said a new law called the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act recently was established, which requires all drains at public pools to be covered. The law was established in memory of a little girl who was pulled down by a drain and drowned.

The stainless steel drains covers will be purchased from Leisure Pool and Spa, Syracuse.

•Approved the purchase of a new riding lawnmower.

The Exmark Lazer mower will be purchased from Hilty Engine Inc., Berne, at a cost of $3,999. The price reflects a trade in value of $3,760 for an older mower that the city is trading in.

The city also received quotes of $4,000 from Hull Brothers Inc., Fort Recovery; $6,006 from Lefeld Implement Inc., Coldwater, Ohio; and $8,000 from John's Small Engine Inc., Redkey. The quotes from Hull Brothers and Lefeld both reflect trade ins.[[In-content Ad]]