Construction started this week for the new playground at West Elementary in Knoxville.

At a December school board meeting, the board approved a bid from Play-Pro Recreation for new playground equipment at the school for $339,000 Committees at West Elementary School have been working toward that goal for two years, as the current playground is not suitable for the district and a safety hazard for children. 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 hopes the project will be completed quickly.

“We had Play-Pro Equipment start on the West Playground, so that project is off and running. Hopefully we can start minimizing some of the rain so they can get that project done quick.”

The cost for the old equipment to be removed was just over $41,000.  The funding for the new playground equipment came from the district’s five year facilities plan