ABERDEEN, S.D.(Aberdeen American News)- A new playground and the 2022 budget were topics when the Aberdeen Park and Recreation board met this week.

The budget includes a 9% increase in salaries for temporary employees, raising wages about $1 per hour, said Mark Hoven, director the Parks, Recreation and Forestry Department.

In recent years, the department has had trouble finding enough temporary employees. The higher wages are meant to address that issue.

Hoven said the department is also in talks to construct restrooms by Holgate Middle School, which might be a cooperative effort with the Aberdeen School District.

The board also heard about bids for equipment for a playground that is set to be constructed at Storybook Land. It will be an inclusive playground, which is more accessible to children with disabilities. It will be replacing a playground that is south of the Land of Oz.

The board unanimously approved a bid from Landscape Structures of Delano, Minn. The budget for the playground is $410,000. Landscape Structures has built playgrounds in Fargo, N.D., and the Twin Cities.

Hoven said the committee had been going between three versions of the playground and showed a photo of the one recommended to the board.

“This playground rated higher on inclusive play and accessibility play,” he said of the Landscape Structures proposal.

Now, the city can move forward with ordering equipment and finalizing a color scheme, Hoven said.

Check out the full article at www.aberdeennews.com.