By Greg Chandler
Zeeland Record
The playground immediately north of the former Bethel Christian Reformed Church will move onto property owned by Zeeland Public Schools under an agreement with the city.
The City Council on Sept. 21 approved a lease agreement with ZPS for the playground to be relocated to 710 E. Main Ave., across from the Mead Johnson Nutrition plant and near ZPS’ transportation garage. The lease covers a 0.58-acre area of the school property and will be in effect for 20 years at a cost of $1 to the city, Interim City Manager Kevin Plockmeyer said.
“That is far larger than the existing Bethel playground site … We are gaining a lot of extra room here,” Plockmeyer said.
“We will be responsible for all of the equipment inside, we will be responsible for the maintenance, etc.”
City officials have been in discussion with representatives of Mead Johnson, the school district and the church for months concerning the current playground, which is on property now owned by the company as part of its multi-million dollar plant modernization project.
The relocated playground will combine the use of equipment from the current site with the acquisition of new equipment from Holland Township-based Sinclair Recreation/GameTime. In a separate vote Sept. 21, the City Council waived its usual competitive bidding process and awarded the contract for the relocation of the relocation and expansion to Sinclair in the amount of $224,979, and set a total project budget of $250,000.
“We’re making this a better playground than what was proposed as far as just a relocation,” Plockmeyer said.
The project is being paid for through a collaborative funding process, with multiple entities involved. Mead Johnson committed the largest share, $125,000, toward the project. ZPS is contributing $25,000 plus a portion of the 710 E. Main property. The Zeeland Board of Public Works issued a $25,000 grant to the city through its Community Grant program. In addition, the city discovered it had another $35,000 in funds that had been designated at one time for a park near the corner of Main and Fairview.
“I don’t know exactly where it’s come from, but we haven’t been able to spend it because we haven’t put in a park in the vicinity in that area,” Plockmeyer said.
“I searched 25 years of council packets and couldn’t find anything.”
The city would then contribute $15,000 to $40,000 to fill in any funding gaps toward the project. In addition, the city could qualify for a $50,000 grant depending on how soon it orders the new equipment, Plockmeyer said.
“We see this as a great collaboration between multiple different partners, to get a great community asset out of this,” he said.
The city is expected to receive the new equipment over the winter, with the relocation of the playground to the ZPS property expected to take place in the spring, Plockmeyer said.
Zeeland Record
The playground immediately north of the former Bethel Christian Reformed Church will move onto property owned by Zeeland Public Schools under an agreement with the city.
The City Council on Sept. 21 approved a lease agreement with ZPS for the playground to be relocated to 710 E. Main Ave., across from the Mead Johnson Nutrition plant and near ZPS’ transportation garage. The lease covers a 0.58-acre area of the school property and will be in effect for 20 years at a cost of $1 to the city, Interim City Manager Kevin Plockmeyer said.
“That is far larger than the existing Bethel playground site … We are gaining a lot of extra room here,” Plockmeyer said.
“We will be responsible for all of the equipment inside, we will be responsible for the maintenance, etc.”
City officials have been in discussion with representatives of Mead Johnson, the school district and the church for months concerning the current playground, which is on property now owned by the company as part of its multi-million dollar plant modernization project.
The relocated playground will combine the use of equipment from the current site with the acquisition of new equipment from Holland Township-based Sinclair Recreation/GameTime. In a separate vote Sept. 21, the City Council waived its usual competitive bidding process and awarded the contract for the relocation of the relocation and expansion to Sinclair in the amount of $224,979, and set a total project budget of $250,000.
“We’re making this a better playground than what was proposed as far as just a relocation,” Plockmeyer said.
The project is being paid for through a collaborative funding process, with multiple entities involved. Mead Johnson committed the largest share, $125,000, toward the project. ZPS is contributing $25,000 plus a portion of the 710 E. Main property. The Zeeland Board of Public Works issued a $25,000 grant to the city through its Community Grant program. In addition, the city discovered it had another $35,000 in funds that had been designated at one time for a park near the corner of Main and Fairview.
“I don’t know exactly where it’s come from, but we haven’t been able to spend it because we haven’t put in a park in the vicinity in that area,” Plockmeyer said.
“I searched 25 years of council packets and couldn’t find anything.”
The city would then contribute $15,000 to $40,000 to fill in any funding gaps toward the project. In addition, the city could qualify for a $50,000 grant depending on how soon it orders the new equipment, Plockmeyer said.
“We see this as a great collaboration between multiple different partners, to get a great community asset out of this,” he said.
The city is expected to receive the new equipment over the winter, with the relocation of the playground to the ZPS property expected to take place in the spring, Plockmeyer said.
––––––––––––––––––––
Subscribe to the Legal News!
https://legalnews.com/Home/Subscription
Full access to public notices, articles, columns, archives, statistics, calendar and more
Day Pass Only $4.95!
One-County $80/year
Three-County & Full Pass also available
