LINWOOD — Children visiting Linwood Library will soon have a new outdoor spot to enjoy story time as well as a larger playground for burning off excess energy.
City Council awarded two contracts Feb. 23 for surface work, equipment and installation to create a play area at the library.
“The city of Linwood is excited to approve resolutions awarding the playground and story time contracts to Liberty Parks and Playgrounds,” said Councilwoman June Byrnes, who oversees Neighborhood Services. “This is the same company that did a fabulous job on the playground at All Wars Memorial Field.”
Byrnes said the project will include an outdoor story time area with six benches that resemble lumber, a bookend climber/seat for the librarian and five tables for adults and craft time.
“The playground will have swings for all ages and a mini city that encourages safe and interactive play,” Byrnes said. “The surfaces will be the same ADA-compliant material that we have at All Wars Memorial Field.”
Byrnes said the project was broken into two parts in case there is a delay in equipment delivery. This way, she said, the story time part of the project could be completed even if the larger portion of the project were held up.
One contract, in the amount of $158,503, is for 4,400 square feet of surface and a jungle gym with slides. In documents included in the agenda, Chief Financial Officer Anthony Strazzeri reported the city has the entire amount available under a capital ordinance approved in 2020.
The second contract, for $57,234, includes 1,100 square feet of surface and the equipment Byrnes listed previously.
Strazzeri reported the city has a $55,000 Local Recreational Improvement Grant and $2,234 in capital funds to purchase the equipment.
“We currently have a few exciting projects for all ages moving forward at the library,” Byrnes said. “We will make an announcement and invite the community to an event to view when completed.”
By CRAIG D. SCHENCK/Sentinel staff