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Students ask Carroll County to refurbish playground near soccer fields; county staff say funds are available
Summary
Students from Ivy League Academy proposed refurbishing and relocating existing playground equipment near Carroll County Park’s soccer fields; county staff said existing playground funds could cover most costs and discussed inspection and mulch requirements.
A group of students from Ivy League Academy presented a plan Nov. 25 to refurbish and relocate old playground equipment to a shaded site near the soccer fields at Carroll County Park, saying the move would let families safely watch children during games.
The students — who identified themselves in turn as Christopher Perez, Nathan Alsip, William and Mary Paul — outlined a three-phase timeline: move equipment by Dec. 8, prepare the ground in February and build during March with a month allowed for weather delays. They said they would refurbish existing equipment to save cost and buy some items locally.
Why it matters: County parks staff told the court there is remaining playground funding in next year’s budget and that routine maintenance and liability requirements must be met before equipment opens to the public. During discussion county staff said the general parks playground allocation was budgeted at $250,000 and that about $50,000 remained after prior projects; mulch and maintenance obligations could be a significant portion of that remainder.
County officials asked practical questions about safety and upkeep. The court discussed post-installation inspection requirements and whether the original installer should return to assist with assembly and staff training. Commissioners also urged the students to confirm mulch depth standards required by county insurance and to coordinate with Rick and JP in parks maintenance for grading details.
The students’ estimated project cost as presented was about $3,700 before contingency funds; presenters said they had budgeted extra for unexpected costs and planned to source materials locally where possible. Officials encouraged the students to provide a written list of items, firm site selection and a volunteer/contractor plan so staff could confirm compliance with county safety and procurement policies.
Next steps: County staff signaled willingness to move forward administratively and to identify whether the parks budget can cover mulch and installation; staff recommended arranging inspections after installation and confirming whether the original equipment installer will assist with reassembly and training.
