Members of the Plymouth Park Board approved a contract with the Troyer Group to assist with an application for the 2020 Indiana Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) Land and Water Conservation Fund to provide funding for playground improvements at the Hoosier Old Wheels Pavilion in Centennial Park.
Park Superintendent Mike Hite said, “The handicap playground at Hoosier Old Wheels has definitely seen its day.” He tried to get funding through the city budget for new playground equipment this year but it was cut from the budget. He said he started looking at different avenues to replace the equipment. Hite estimated the playground was put in in the late 70’s.
Mike Reese from Troyer Group attended the meeting Monday evening and said the grant is due June 1st and you may apply for up to $250,000 in a 50/50 matching grant. He said they use a scoring system on the grant applications. He noted land acquisition and trails rank higher but there are points for playgrounds and lighting upgrades to LED.
Two years ago they were able to fund every application and last year about 85% of those submitted were funded.
One of the criteria for the grant is the creation of a master plan for the playground and associated site improvements. Troyer Group will assist with the plan, selecting the playground equipment and write a project narrative to address the required project information. They will also complete a preliminary cost estimate; prepare the required maps for the application along with the environmental assessment and archaeological historical architectural review.
Total cost of the contract is $7,900.
Mike Reese told the Plymouth Park Board if successful the design phase would be next summer and fall with construction to begin in March of 2021.
