Cape Girardeau County commission dedicates $150,000 for special playground
Cape Girardeau County commissioners approved $150,000 Thursday to fund an all-accessible playground. Melaina's Magical Playground, named for Melaina Cunningham, a 3-year-old who died of complications from pneumonia earlier this year, will have equipment for people of all abilities and ages. Other options could include an all-accessible restrooms and handicapped parking spaces. About $350,000 still must be raised. Equipment will cost between $225,000 and $250,000, a special, softer playground surface will cost $150,000 and grading, installation and labor will cost between $50,000 and $100,000. Representative Scott Lipke and Andrea Cunningham, the mother of Melaina and a driving force behind the project, also asked for the commission to sign off on an application for a $75,000 grant from the National Park Service's Land and Water Conservation Fund. However, the three commissioners voiced concern about signing off on a resolution of support because the county would have to abide by the rules and regulations of the Land and Water Conservation Fund for its entire 310 acres of parks in the county. The commission instead agreed to sign a resolution by changing the wording to specify it would be just for the area of the playground, which would be in Cape County Park South. Read more from Brian Blackwell in the SE Missourian.
Written By: kzim
Date Posted: 11/20/2009 10:34 AM
Number of Views: 255
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