Columbus is using COVID-19 relief funds to reimburse The Commons for antibacterial flooring included in its indoor playground renovations.
The Columbus City Council has approved a resolution to transfer $176,272.87 from the city’s general fund reserves to The Commons fund reserves.
Director of Finance, Operations and Risk Jamie Brinegar said that the resolution uses some of the city’s CARES dollars in the general fund to reimburse flooring costs.
According to the resolution, the parks and recreation department spent $215,050 on the new antibacterial flooring and received “$38,777.13 in available CARES funding for reimbursement of the playground renovation project.”
Brinegar said that the flooring was an approved use of CARES funding by the state of Indiana. However, in order to speed up reimbursement of CARES expenditures from the state, the city was required to submit public safety payroll expenses at the majority of its CARES request and was only able to include a limited amount of the flooring cost.
“We would therefore like to reimburse The Commons Fund the remaining amount of the cost of the antibacterial flooring,” Brinegar said.
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According to the project description, the planned repairs and updates to the James A. Henderson Playground include:
- Repairing and resurfacing the “pour and play surface"
- Replacing the Luckey Climber cable coating
- Fixing broken equipment on the toddler area and music wall
- Increasing lighting to allow play for evenings
- Redesigning the current lighting system to help with future maintenance
- Removing barrier walls so parents can watch their children more easily
- Purchasing new playground technologies that will make cleaning easier
- Making designated, safe play areas for infants and toddlers
- Creating inclusive play opportunities will give every child with any ability the opportunity to explore the playground and play together without barriers
- Adding sensory play to help the development of language skills, motor skills, and problem-solving skills
Commons Manager Shanda Sasse said in March that the project would likely be complete in late spring.
The city’s “only free indoor playground” at The Commons typically saw more than 100,000 visitors annually, prior to closing amid the pandemic.
Sasse said that The Commons will be following state and county COVID-19 guidelines as it makes a decision about when to re-open. At present, the facility is largely closed to the public, with the exception of rental events.
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