OTHELLO — Construction should begin next spring or early summer on upgrades to the playground at Othello’s Lions Park. Othello Mayor Shawn Logan estimated the project cost will increase by about $800,000 from the original $1 million estimate.

Logan said city officials should receive construction contracts for the project this week, and design can begin once those contracts are in hand. Once the design is completed the project will go out to bid, he said.

“That anticipates we would begin the project sometime in May or June,” Logan said. “Those (estimates) are in perfect worlds.”

The city received about $1 million in grant funding for the project in 2021, but the project was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In the meantime construction and labor costs increased substantially and, Logan said, the project costs increased as a result. What’s true for the playground project has been true for other city projects in 2022.

“We’re experiencing (price increases) across the board,” he said.

“We’re working on alternate sources of funding,” he said, including additional grant funding.

The Othello City Council has authorized spending $800,000 of the city’s Covid relief funds if other funding isn’t available.

“We’re not done yet,” Logan said. “COVID delayed it, but it isn’t going to stop (the project).”

The proposed plan for the new “Lions Pride” playground replaces all the existing swings and climbing bars with new ones and adds a climbing wall and surfaces that are more forgiving than the existing gravel.

Preliminary proposals include two sections, one for children 5 years of age and younger, with toys for babies and toddlers, the second for children 6 and older. Special toys are planned for children with limited mobility. More benches and picnic tables are proposed, as well as plans for more trees. The proposal includes a new bike path, a new bike rack and a redesign of existing paths.

An exercise course around the playground is proposed for adults. The possible design options also include information boards highlighting Othello’s history and the local geography. Logan said in an earlier interview he wants the playground to have something for everybody coming to the park.

The new playground is not the only improvement planned for Lions Park. Two basketball courts will be added to the two already in the park. The city received a $350,000 grant for that part of the project.

Cheryl Schweizer can be reached via email at [email protected].