MANSFIELD — Another city park is getting new playground equipment in Mansfield.
The city’s Board of Control on Tuesday voted to spend $67,740 to buy the equipment from Midstates Recreation for Prospect Park on the city’s southeast side at 542 Marquis Ave.
The decision comes a month after the same board approved $73,477 with the same company for playground equipment at Maple Lake Park.
Parks Supt. Mark Abrams told the board — Mayor Jodie Perry, Finance Director Kelly Blankenship and Safety Service Director Keith Porch — the city saved $7,000 from the Prospect Park purchase price by dismantling and removing the old playground equipment on its own.
The 3-acre park has a large swing set that will remain as the playground is redone, Abrams said.
“What I have learned in this job is how expensive playground equipment is,” said Perry, who took office in January.
Abrams agreed, adding the contract with Midstates is done through state contract pricing. Funds for the purchase will come from the parks & recreation department budget.
“It’s hard to explain to people. It’s not like you can go out to Lowes and get a jungle gym and put it up for $300,” he said.
The park was established in 1937, according to the city website.
”Prospect Park is one of our parks that can hold smaller outdoor events. The park has playground equipment or you can cook out with the charcoal grills outside. as well. The park has a softball/ baseball field attached and a soccer field as well,” according to the website.
“I think this will be well received by the neighborhood. There’s been a lot of interest in Prospect Park that we’ve been hearing about from folks. So people are excited to hear what’s coming,” Perry said.
Also on Tuesday, the Control Board approved spending a total of $97,703 on three separate requests from wastewater treatment plant manager Bob Coker.
Coker obtained funding to overhaul stationary engines at the plant, repair an electric blower and perform preventative, scheduled maintenance on two $500,000 sludge decanters.
Funds for the work will come from the wastewater treatment plant budget.
“I appreciate that you’re sticking to the preventative maintenance schedule because I think that’s a half-a-million-dollar piece of (sludge decanter) equipment. This is really important,” Perry said.