Monday morning city workers were busy removing the old, outdated playground equipment. Within a couple of weeks, some new slides, swings and other goodies will be ready for youngsters to enjoy.The new playground equipment arrived while the broken, bent and outdated equipment was being removed. Crews from Benchmark Enterprises will be arriving later in the week to start assembling the new apparatus.
"We knew the old playground equipment needed to be replaced," said public works director Ron Casey. "The old equipment had been in place for over 30 years and safety rules have changed so much."
Among the new items that will be available will be a handicap swing allowing youngsters in wheelchairs to enjoy the park. A fundraising effort by the America's Guardian motorcycle club raised over $2,000 to help purchase that swing.
"We are trying to be careful when we remove the old playground items," Casey said. "There's lots of people who have years of memories as they were children or watching their own children play there."
Discussions are being held whether to declare some of that old equipment as surplus and sell it at an auction either later this year or next spring. Nothing definite has been decided.
"Between the splash pad and this new playground look, McCutcheon Park is going to be a great place for the young people to play," Casey said.
More playground equipment will be replaced at Nichols Park as funds become available.