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Resident urges council to replace small playground after removal; asks proceeds be used for new equipment
Summary
A resident raised safety and access concerns after the city removed small playground equipment; the council said it will direct donated proceeds to park improvements and noted ongoing veteran memorial fundraising.
A Mount Pleasant resident told the City Council Jan. 28 that the city’s small playground was removed quickly and urged councilmembers to use sale proceeds to replace equipment for young children.
Claudia, speaking during public participation, said the small playground has long served families as a free place to take children and that its removal reduces options for younger kids. She asked whether the equipment had been sold, how much the city received, and whether any proceeds would be applied to replacement equipment.
Claudia said she was told the playground items were taken and that the city received roughly $500; she asked the council to commit that funds would be used toward new small-child playground equipment. "The playground equipment…is the only place you have for families in this town to go free," she said during her remarks.
Council members responded that the park committee is actively fundraising and reviewing plans. Council staff noted that the trust’s report had listed several major violations for playground installations and that some recently installed equipment required corrections; the transcript indicated the smaller playground was not separately inspected in the same report.
Council members and staff said the veteran memorial committee has raised roughly $60,828 (the transcript contains multiple phrases referring to amounts) and is pursuing additional donations, drop-box fundraising and outreach through local heritage channels. The council described ongoing committee work to enhance the park with restrooms and other amenities but said improvements will take time and additional funding.
Ending: The council did not make a funding commitment at the meeting beyond general support for the park committee’s work. Residents requested that any proceeds from the playground removal be earmarked for replacement equipment; council members said staff will follow up with specifics and that a future agenda item could formalize the dedication of funds.
