The Atlantic Parks and Recreation Department’s Board of Directors, Monday, approved the ordering of playground equipment for the west side of the Schildberg Recreation Area (SRA), near the Shelter House. Parks & Rec Director Seth Staashelm said part of the next step in the development of the SRA is the inclusion of playground equipment. Miracle Recreation Equipment of Monett, MO., is having a sale on playground equipment, according to Staashelm.

Atlantic Parks & Rec Board meeting, 8-20-18

The equipment he was looking at has a 65-to 75 capacity for the younger kids and costs $16, 899, which is in-line with the Parks Department’s budget of $25,000. It will include a slide, monkey bars, balance beam-type steps, pull-up bars, swing sets and two-to three spring-type rides (with animal characters, etc,). A formed plastic rock climbing wall had been considered, but its cost and the risk of having it be vandalized by spray painters made it less appealing to the Board and Staashelm, for that matter. The price tag allows for the installation of required rubberized-type fall material that protects against injuries.

He said also, an Eagle Scout Boat, Joseph Barkley, of Omaha, was planning to construct a kayak launch project for the boat ramp area near the wastewater treatment plant in Atlantic. But those plans had to be scrubbed because they had apparently never been given permission by the DNR to place a launch near the river. Still, the Scout constructed parking lot signage and refurbished a picnic table. The signs were hand-made, and include access points to the East Nishnabotna River.

Staashelm said work is still being planned for the Sunnyside Park entrance sign, which he said “Will be large,” once it’s finished. He said they are “So getting close to (finally) getting started on [the project]. They’re working with Central Western Fabricators for the metal arch that will be 14-feet tall for truck clearance. Landscaping and other features will be added soon thereafter.