ENGLEWOOD — A $24,000 grant from the Montgomery County Solid Waste District will help fund the replacement of playground equipment in Centennial Park, located at 321 Union Blvd. in Englewood.

City council passed a resolution at its Jan. 9 meeting to authorize City Manager Eric Smith to contract with GameTime to have new playground equipment installed at Centennial Park at a cost not to exceed $65,000.

According to the resolution, the cost to purchase and have the new equipment installed by GameTime would total $64,168.

The current equipment is 20 years old and has reached the end of its useful life cycle. The new equipment would be made from recycled materials and would meet all safety and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) guidelines and would be geared for children ages 2 through 12.

“The addition of new playground equipment would be a huge improvement for Centennial Park,” said Ryan Kruse, Englewood’s director of human services. “The equipment being replaced is located in the wooded area near the pond.”

Englewood has previously purchased equipment from GameTime, which has been manufacturing playground equipment since 1929.

“GameTime is an established company that has completed several playground projects for us over the years and we have been very pleased with their work,” Kruse added.

Centennial Park is the home of Englewood Little League featuring nine ball diamonds. The park features a catch and release fishing pond, a splash pad water feature for kids to cool off in, which is open Memorial Day through Labor Day.

The park also features tennis / pickleball courts, trails, sand volleyball, bike trails, picnic shelters and tables, and public restroom facilities. The Carr Woods Nature Sanctuary is located at the back of the park.

City officials expect the upgrade to be completed by either April or May.

Reach Ron Nunnari at (937) 684-9124 or by email: [email protected].