Truesdale city officials were displeased to learn that equipment on their brand-new, $38,000 playground in Bruer Park, as well as newly installed infrastructure, was damaged by an errant operator finishing work at the park.

Public Works Director Mark Bennett said surface damage to the park’s playground and swing set were noticed as the park was nearing completion earlier this month. Along with it, Bennett said he observed damage to paving and drainage that had only just been installed – all of which was caused by one person.

“We went to look at the cameras, and the guy crushed a pipe, hit a sewer line, and damaged the concrete, damaged a slide and damaged a pole (on the swings),” Bennett reported during an Oct. 13 board of aldermen meeting. He said contractor Freise Construction is being directed to repair the damage before the city pays its final bill for a year-long construction project in the park.

The city is retaining 10 percent of Freise Construction’s payment for upgrading Bruer Park, contracted at $252,000, until the corrections and final work at the park are complete.

Unfortunately, replacing marred playground equipment isn’t part of the usual scope of work for a construction contractor. While some of the cosmetic damage at the playground can be covered up, city leaders say Freise owes a better fix.

“We spent a lot of money on that, and it was his (worker’s) carelessness that caused it,” said Alderman Mike Thomas.

Bennett said the main cause of the damage was a skid loader the worker was driving into the mostly finished park to dump gravel that would underlie the playground’s soft surface.

“They could have easily wheel-barrowed that stuff over there instead of using a Bobcat,” Bennett commented. “They just wanted to get the job done faster, but that’s an expensive playground over there.”

Bennett said he and city leaders will inspect the park for any remaining work and fixes that need to be made before a final payment is released to Freise.