The Cheyenne Parks and Recreation Department is hoping to break ground on an all-abilities playground in Cahill Park by late fall.

The City Council on Monday approved the purchase of $335,668 worth of playground equipment from Recreation Plus and Dakota Playground for the Friendship
Playground and, pending approval by the Finance Committee, is expected to award the project to Reiman Corp. when it meets on October 10.

"The way it was bid is that there was a base bid and there were four alternates which were additional pieces to the playground," said Parks and Recreation Senior Planner Teresa Moore. "The contract with Reiman is for the base bid and one of the alternates (a picnic shelter), so we still have three alternates out there that we need to fund raise for."

The $1,238,910 playground, which will be themed around Cheyenne's transportation history, is being entirely funded through grants and donations.

"At this point we're sitting right around $900,000," said Moore. "We're hoping that we can continue on and build it all together, but if that doesn't happen we'll have to do it in phases."

"The other alternates that are left out right at this time are an adult fitness area that was on the periphery, a walkway that went around the periphery that gave you insight back into each of the different modes of transportation that we're utilizing in this playground and a learning center," said Parks and Recreation Director Rick Parish.

"They're all easily added on," added Parish. "So we would love to get those in and have it all complete, but I think that where we're at now it will meet most people's expectations."

More From Y95 Country