A project that has been ongoing to further improve Mountain View Park is all but final after a bid for new playground equipment was awarded to a playground equipment supply company from Ohio last Wednesday afternoon, March 25.

The Healthy Hometown Coalition committee and the Recreation Park Board held a lengthy joint meeting at noon last Wednesday and each body voted unanimously to award the equipment bid to David Williams and Associates of Alliance, Ohio at a total cost–including supervised installation, of $74,449.00.

The bulk of the funding to make the purchase possible came from grant money obtained through the Healthy Hometown Coalition program, as well as other organizations and some money that was raised by the park board through fundraisers held over the past several months.

A total of six detailed bids were received after the executive committee of the park board voted in early March to advertise for bids. The bids were opened last Monday, March 23.

Both groups met two days later at the Central Office board room and with 15 total persons on hand, grouped off in six tables and reviewed each bid package thoroughly before making a final decision on the Ohio company. Members of each group, the HHC and park board felt the company supplied the best and most equipment for the money before taking separate votes from each organization, with both voting unanimously to award the bid to David Williams and Associates.

The board had set a bid limit of $75,000 and all bids came within that amount. Although all bidders who submitted equipment bids presented good bids, after looking at all the options, the board chose and voted on the successful bidder.

The new playground, which will feature a beige rubberized safety mulch and blue and yellow playground equipment, will have several pieces installed for all ages of children up to age 12, will be eight feet in height, feature five slides and will also have a capacity of 105-110 children.

Delivery will take about four weeks from the time of the awarding of the bid and park board members and volunteers, with the assistance from a company supervisor, will construct and install the new playground equipment.

Once the equipment is installed and ready for use, a ribbon cutting ceremony will be planned at the park to welcome the public to see the newest improvement to the park, possibly as soon as late April.

Also during the park board portion of the meeting, that body voted to put the old playground equipment up for sealed bid and an advertisement for that equipment can be found elsewhere in this week’s edition.

The board also voted to approve the treasurer’s report prior to adjourning the call meeting–which was held in lieu of its regular meeting that was cancelled last Thursday night. The park board’s next regular meeting is scheduled for April 30 at 6 p.m. at the park.