The Rowan County Fiscal Court recently authorized Judge Executive Harry Clark to purchase new playground equipment for the Harry T. Clark Community Park.
The equipment will cost over $134,000. The Janie Holbrook Foundation and the Bluegrass Community Foundation have raised roughly $60,000 to cover equipment and construction costs. The Rowan County Fiscal Court will provide an estimated $125,000.
Clark said the fiscal court will continue to seek donations after providing the necessary funds, but it is important the playground is purchased now.
“As we get more donations, then our obligation’s going down. But if we don’t order it now, then we’re going to be sitting here in spring and summer next year thinking, ‘Boy, I wish we had playground equipment,” said Clark.
The new equipment will include play structures, swings, a dome climber, swing and slide mats, and 210 yards of mulch.
Though the funding will cover wooden mulch chips, Clark plans to apply for a rubber grant to have the park ground covered in rubber rather than mulch.
“Our whole goal is to get this installed, be able to utilize it, and we’re going to apply for a rubber grant, and that will be the felt type stuff that you can see over at City Park. It really feels good,” said Clark.
Clark said if the wooden chips are installed and then the county receives a rubber grant, the mulch can be repurposed.