The Marthasville Board of Aldermen has pledged $30,000 toward the purchase of new playground equipment. The decision was made at a workshop meeting April 20. The $30,000 from the city, along with donations from individuals and area businesses, will bring the total playground fund to $48,425. A bid from Hutchinson Recreation and Design, Inc., is estimated at $60,000. The previous playground was deemed unsafe and removed because of liability concerns. Although aldermen have budgeted for $30,000 for the new equipment, a total $35,000 will be allocated, with the extra money being used for other park or playground upgrades in the city. A decision on what department fund the $30,000 will be taken from was tabled until the May 10 meeting. “We need to make sure we know where we’re going to pull this money from,” said Alderman Jim Struckhoff, who ran the meeting for Mayor Dale Verges, who was not present. “We don’t want to sit on this decision too long and let it fall. The city might as well contribute something. With this small budget, we’re happy to spend $30,000. “We’ve got a large parks system in town because of all the flood buyout land, but we’ve got no place for the kids to play,” he added. Park Board member Don Deeker, who has spearheaded the playground project, felt that making the city’s contribution public would help spur more donations. “We’ve received donations ranging from $20 to $5,000,” he said. “But when the church had building projects, people did not give until they saw ground turned and then the money came. So when they (citizens) read of the city vote, then I’m hopeful, at least, that more money will come in.” Alderman Leo Tobben said the allocation toward new playground equipment would help garner more donations. “It’s a reality,” he said. “Right now, people see it as too far away, but the money can be pulled out of capital improvements or wherever we want to pull it from and that’s growing now because we’ve got businesses like Philly’s Pizza and K&R because people are here and spending some money and we get that money back by growing the city. “I think we should look at half (of the playground cost) as a city,” he added. “It’s the tax money and it’s going to be the city’s.” Included in the $60,000 estimate is the delivery of the equipment. The likely playground surface of pea gravel, however, would be a separate cost. Donations can be sent to City of Marthasville, P.O. Box 21, Marthasville, MO 63357. Playground equipment should be designated in the memo line.