Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Parks Recreation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Troup County aims to use $700,000 DNR grant for fully adaptive playground at Weitzman Road site
Summary
Parks staff said a $700,000 Land and Water Conservation (federal pass-through) grant will fund a fully adaptive playground at the Weitzman Road / soccer complex site; county intends to use SPLOST 5 funds for the local match and will seek vendor proposals for a $625,000 build-plus-design budget with $75,000 held for site furnishings.
County parks staff told the board on Sept. 2 that Troup County is the recipient of a $700,000 Land and Water Conservation Fund (DNR pass-through) grant to build an adaptive playground at the Weitzman Road location near the planned soccer complex.
Staff explained the grant is a federal pass-through that requires a local match; the county set aside SPLOST 5 funds when it applied and intends to use those reserves for the match. The plan described to commissioners is to solicit proposals from five playground manufacturers and ask each to show what they could build for a $625,000 design/build budget, leaving about $75,000 for site amenities such as benches, trash cans and landscaping.
Parks staff (Lance) described the playground as fully adaptive — designed so wheelchairs and children with a broad range of physical and developmental needs can use the entire play environment, including swing options that accommodate wheelchairs. Staff proposed beginning procurement work after November so on‑site construction will not interfere with the completion of adjacent athletic fields, with installation aimed for the following spring.
Commissioners were asked to authorize adoption and acceptance of the grant at the evening meeting and to give the board chair permission to execute the final resolution when the grant package is provided.
