The Knoxville School Board approved a proposal for new playground equipment at West Elementary School at their special meeting Wednesday night in a 4-1 vote. 

Committees at West Elementary School have been working toward a goal of new playground equipment for two years, as the current playground equipment is not suitable for the district and a safety hazard for children. The board received three different quotes for the new equipment and looked at two different options from a quote they received from Play-Pro recreation. The board ultimately approved a quote from Play-Pro for just over $339,000 after going with the cheaper of the two options they received. The new playground equipment will be more suitable for children that are wheelchair bound along with having a foundation that is easier to maintain. Knoxville Community School District Business Manager Craig Mobley said it is a win win for the district.

“It is a roughly $340,000 option, however it will be a full poured-in-place rubber surface for this playground. It will have two different sections. One for the lower elementary the 2-5 and the other one for the age range of 5-12. It will be very accessible for any of the wheelchair bound students so I think it’s going to be a win win.”

The funding for the new playground equipment will come from the district’s five year facilities plan.