Latest step in replacement for wooden play structure at Nathan Dean Sports Complex

Money from the Land Water Conservation Fund is going toward helping the City of Rockmart replace the wooden playground structure at the Nathan Dean Sports Complex.

A grant totaling $125,000 was accepted by Unanimous vote by the Rockmart City Council on Tuesday evening during their October regular session, sought specifically to get funding help with at least some of the expected cost of the replacement structure.

Mayor Sherman Ross said he was excited the city can now move forward with the goal to provide a safer place for area youth to play.

“This is something that we’ve awaited for a while. I know our public has been waiting on it,” Ross said. “We look forward to getting started with that. We’ll be making some announcements moving forward seeking participation from the public, and it will involve some fundraising to help with this grant. We hope to get a design chosen.”

He added that “I’m encouraging that we work as efficiently and as fast as we can to get everything in place and get the money raised so that we can get that playground coming out of the grant done as quickly as possible.”

The playground, Ross said, will be Americans with Disabilities Act compliant and provide children with a variety of options to enjoy the space once renewed.

City Manager Stacey Smith went into further detail in a follow up query today.

The city took the first step by applying for and obtaining grant money to defray the full cost of the forthcoming replacement structure. Delays incurred in recent months on the grant money being awarded to the city, and the paperwork completed for the LWCF to fund the project.

Some of the cost will be paid by the city, since the grant requires an equal match of $125,000, Smith explained.

Now that documents are signed and being sent back to the LWCF, she said the city will have to meet with officials administering the grant about requirements with the funding. Once the documents are accepted and the LWCF allows for the city to begin preliminary work by removing what’s already there, Smith said the city plans to take down the wood structure as soon as possible.

That might begin as soon as next week if the paperwork filed today with the LWCF is given the green light. Since the council has approved and Mayor Ross signed off on accepting the grant during the Tuesday night meeting, it is likely the teardown process will get underway before November.

Once the process begins to remove the existing playground, Smith said that anyone who has a picket with their name on it will be allowed to come collect it before they are removed from the site with the rest of the dismantled equipment and structure. Additional memorials of the city’s work like a metal plaque and brick pavers with names on them will likely stay in place for the time being.

Designed by Leathers and Associates, the community-built playground was constructed in 1999. The 23-year-old structure was closed by the city in late May due to safety concerns.

After the current structure is removed, Smith said plans are to hold a Community input meeting on how to proceed with the design process, and to help with fundraising efforts and other committees.

An announcement will be forthcoming when that meeting is scheduled.

Because the city is using grant money to help fund the structure, Smith said it will likely require open bidding to determine who will ultimately help design and construct the new playground.

Volunteer help will be needed as well when the time comes in 2023 to finish out the project.