Brandon Twp.- Area children will soon have a new reason to visit the community park at 1414 N. Hadley Road.
A playground system valued at roughly $69,000 will arrive in the township this summer, to be constructed with the help of volunteers.
‘It’s going to be very exciting when it’s all done,? said Parks and Recreation Director Fred Waybrant. ‘The kids are really going to enjoy this thing. There is literally no maintenance on these kinds of structures. We’ll do our own on-site inspections and we look forward to having the community get involved.?
The township board approved, by a 5-2 vote at their June 1 meeting, the purchase of the equipment from Michigan Playgrounds, LLC for $50,000. The township will pay the remaining balance, $19,735, but will be reimbursed later this year by a federal grant.
Also approved in the motion was the purchase of rubber flooring for the playground not to exceed $29,000, as well as up to $12,200 for the purchase of aggregate, sand and slag for the base of the rubber tile, and a 4-foot sidewalk surrounding the roughly 1,800 square foot play structure and connecting the trail to an existing sledding hill.
The playground project is part of phase 1 for the park, which opened in May 2008. The boundless playground, which meets all Americans with Disabilities Act compliance standards, is part of a package that is being funded in part by a Department of Natural Resources Land & Water Conservation Fund Grant. The township won the $75,000 grant, which they must match, last year. The grant funds, combined with $20,600 in a park fund, gives the township $170,600 to spend on the playground ($80,000), a magic carpet ride lift station for the sledding hill ($71,400), lighting for the lift station ($7,000), and the 6,080 square foot trail ($12,200 including a path/labor/playground base/sidewalk).
Treasurer Terry Beltramo, as well as Trustee David King, voted no on the motion to approve purchasing the equipment.
‘I’m not against the park, but I’m against spending money we don’t have,? Beltramo said. ‘This isn’t essential, we’re taking money out of the carry forward.?
Clerk Jeannie McCreery explained that with grant money, the funds have to be spent first, then reimbursed.
‘You can’t get free money without it,? she said. ‘You either refuse free money or spend it first and do it legally.?
The play structure features a triple racer slide, as well as a glide slide and a double glide slide, several activities panels, numerous climbers and a swingset. It can accomodate up to 92 children at one time and the rubber flooring decreases injuries by 90 percent.
‘This structure meets all of our expectation of a playground,? said Waybrant, who is now seeking 30-40 volunteers for a community build and hopes to have a 2-day construction just before or just after the July 4 holiday.
For information on how to help, contact the recreation office at 248-627-4640.