News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
Sparta Board of Aldermen approved a $150,000 project Thursday night to replace playground equipment at South Carter Park and Wallace Smith Parks.
The bids came in some $50,000 over budget, but Mayor Jerry Lowery said the city could find the extra money to replace the existing equipment. Delivery expected in December.
“The wood is rotting, it’s in bad shape on both parks,” Lowery said. “And we felt like it’s best for us to just replace all of it, to pull that up and put brand new in. There’ll be no more wood installed. It’ll all be the composite stuff, where it should last longer, easier to maintain.”
The Wallace Smith equipment will include a playground set for two to five year olds as well as a climber, deck, slide set for those five to 12. Similar equipment will be purchased for South Carter. The city would be required to remove the existing facility and provide a level ground for installation.
“Everything’s going up,” Lowery said. “And the longer we wait, the longer we wait, the less equipment we can probably get.”
Following delivery of the equipment, Lowery said the city will install mulch or some similar product around the equipment.
In other business, three new members of the board sworn in, as Hoyt Jones, Judy Payne, and Brent Young took office. All three elected in August.
The board also approved the purchase of a truck for the police department and one for the electric department. Both were budgeted.
