The Prentiss Board of Aldermen held a special called meeting Monday night to discuss the plans for the former Lions Club Park in Prentiss.

Recent efforts have been made to revitalize the park and raise funding for new playground equipment.

Prentiss Mayor Charley Dumas met with a representative recently from Planet Recess who created a design for the new playground.

The playground will satisfy ages 5-12 with a low elevation that increases to six feet high.

The equipment will be placed on one of the tennis courts taking advantage of the existing concrete foundation.

This alleviates the need for expensive clearing and dirt work.

Synthetic turf and  padding will cover the concrete and provide protection under the playground.

Treynor McAdams of Planet Recess presented the board with photos and explanations of each part of the equipment. 

Each component will be compliant with what is required by federal regulations.

Plans are not just for this new equipment, but also for repair of the benches and tables and the basketball court in the future. 

“People here are familiar with the old park, they grew up playing on that playground and there is a certain sentimentality about the old park,” said Dumas.

The special called meeting was necessary because the structure is currently on sale through Oct. 31.

When looking for way to make this a reality, Dumas reached out to Southern Mississippi Planning and Development District. SMPDD has a program that provides a low interest loan to municipalities for projects such as this.

The total cost for the equipment and installation is $75,900.

The board voted unanimously to move forward with the project utilizing a loan from SMPDD.

Private donations are also still being accepted. Those donations will be applied to the loan.

The playground is estimated to be delivered and installed by the first of December, just in time for Christmas.

“We are excited to see this project come to fruition,” said Dumas. “Our hope is that children and families will continue to enjoy this park for years to come,” he said.