Support sought for Uhrichsville playground expansion
UHRICHSVILLE (WJER/WTUZ) (Aug. 9, 2024) – City officials are trying to secure funding for new playground equipment at the park, and residents can help make it happen.
Service Director Cade Watkins is seeking letters of support to turn in with the city’s application for an Ohio Nature Works grant, which has an August 15th deadline. He says the play structure they’re looking at is for younger kids and would go in next to the existing equipment.
“The name of it is Motion Smart Play Structure. It has all those new hands-on movables that they have for sensory sensitive people, and it’s ADA compliant, handicap accessible so it’s the whole nine-yards, but it’s just a smaller structure since it’s for two to five-year-olds.”
Mayor Jim Zucal isn’t getting his hopes up.
“We’re trying all avenues and what I know about the Nature Works grant that you try the first year and you usually don’t get it. There’s not a whole lot of money but you keep trying and eventually you’ll score.”
The city is expected to match at least 25-percent of the more than $37,000 cost, which would come from the park fund. Letters expressing support for the project are needed by the end of the business day on Monday and should be emailed to cwatkins@cityofuhrichsville.org.