At the March 22nd meeting, City Council approved the purchase of a nature-themed playground set for Riverfront Park. It will have 37 different playground features which includes swings, slides, a rock wall, climbers, and other interesting components. Taking into account the time for equipment arrival and installation, City staff anticipates that it will be ready to go by late summer or early fall. The total cost of the playground is $81,815. The Riverfront Park Foundation has pledged $15,000 to help cover expenses with the rest absorbed into the Parks and Recreation budget. This equipment was originally within the scope of a grant awarded to the City by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) in May 2013, but with the suspension of the grant, this funding is no longer available. Reinstatement of the grant is very uncertain, but still a possibility. In the case of reinstatement, reimbursement for this purchase is likely. Click the link below for an enlarged picture of the playground model.