The Sunnyside Park playground, a unique project between the city of Cloquet and the community, is due for replacement and groups hope to have it finished for the kids by the time school starts this fall.
On July 24, Cloquet City Council members approved spending nearly $30,000 on the project, which is $10,000 more than originally planned for this year.
"With the additional site work required, the city council is asked to increase its share of the project," said Brian Fritsinger, city administrator. "This will allow flexibility in responding to other site costs that may present themselves."
Because the park is city property, not school, the city is responsible for equipment replacement. The school has historically provided maintenance assistance with shared cost of repairs.
Churchill Elementary Parents in Education (PIE) secured additional financing, making it possible to complete the project at one time, rather than in phases as originally planned. The total cost of the project is approximately $121,000 and the remaining funds will come largely from PIE and Cloquet Schools.
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The new playground, which has approval from the city of Cloquet's Parks Commission and PIE, involved local youth in plan development, equipment selection and layout.
"It's fantastic how much students were involved in the project," said Les Peterson, Cloquet Parks Deparment.
Students at Churchill were selected to participate in the project through a contest in which they drew the "playground of their dreams," according to Churchill Principal David Wangen.
"The kids are excited and we all are excited about it," Wangen said. "Many thanks go to Lisa Stein and the other parents. They really made this happen."
The plan opens up a larger green space for youth activity between the tennis courts and play structure by relocating the play structure south of its present location. This will require the additional site work by city employees who will need to remove several trees and a large area of hillside.
The equipment, purchased from Miracle Recreation Equipment Company in Hastings, Minn., includes fun pieces such as monkey vines, a sloped climbing wall, a curved balance beam, chameleon slide and wiggly worm climber. The Parks Commission and PIE group reviewed proposals from three different equipment suppliers, according to Fritsinger.
City employees and community volunteers are providing much of the site work in kind, including the removal of the existing play structure, which will be completed this week.
Before city councilors approved the funding, councilor Neil Nemmers wanted to confirm what the $30,000 would fund specifically.
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"The city's investment involves paying for a portion of the equipment, site and storm improvements," Fritsinger explained. "Beyond that, the city will spend staff time in the Parks crew to assist volunteers with putting up the structures."
Volunteers will do the bulk of the work, which has been normal practice in the past, according to Fritsinger.
