BROOKVILLE — City manager Jack Kuntz informed council an administrative delegate agreement with Montgomery County was signed for the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) awarded last year for the all-inclusive playground to be located at Golden Gate Park located at 545 Upper Lewisburg-Salem Road.

CDBG officials approved $75,000 toward the project.

The city also received $75,000 from the Montgomery County Solid Waste District that will be used to help purchase the playground equipment.

The city’s financial cost of the project is $50,000.

The original cost of the playground was $425,000 when it was first presented to council last July.

But because the city didn’t receive as much funding as hoped, the playground was redesigned.

The cost of the playground was lowered to $200,000 with plans to add additional equipment and expand upon the playground in phases with the assistance of grant money.

Included in phase one is the construction of a sidewalk, which will allow handicapped individuals to reach the playground.

Council gave its authorization on Feb. 6 to purchase the equipment through Sourcewell, of Staples, Minn., for the inclusive playground.

Sourcewell is a cooperative purchasing program.

“Staff will begin working on getting this equipment purchased so it can be scheduled to be installed later this year,” Kuntz said.

The National Center on Health, Physical Activity and Disability (NCHPAD), a public health practice and resource center on health promotion for people with disability, states “an inclusive playground considers not just physical access, but also emotional, social, and psychological benefits of play. It encompasses the philosophy that children and adults of all abilities benefit immensely from being able to play and interact together.”

Reach Terry Baver at [email protected].