Milbank City Council Approves New Playground Equipment for Pribyl Park

During the regular meeting of the Milbank City Council on March 14, the council voted to approve improvements to three of the city’s parks. One of the parks, Pribyl Park in the southern area of Milbank, is slated to be revamped to accommodate new playground equipment. 

The parks and recreation department for the City of Milbank had previously explained that Pribyl Park does have playground equipment because it was located so close to Koch School.  The playground equipment was removed when Koch School was demolished last summer after the school district sold the land and the building and HME, a Brookings company, began construction on the senior living project that will replace it. 

Late in 2021, members of the city council moved forward with a $500,000 bond measure to fund  playground equipment at Pribyl Park along with other projects.  A subcommittee of the parks and recreation board was formed to determine available options, and the park board voted to present Option One, with an estimated cost of $227,582, and Option Three, $258,993, to the city council. The park board recommended Option Three to the council. The main difference in the two prices is due mainly to  the choice of equipment. 

They recommended Option Three because they believe it provides more variety of play for a larger age group. 

Both options are designed to fit in the same 80 by 100-foot area.  Each option would also include a sandbox, wood fibers, pea rock, ground fabric, concrete border, drainage, excavation work, trees, black dirt, sidewalk, and improvements to the road and parking that is estimated to cost an additional $47,145. 

The council members voted to approve Option Three.
The next step in the process is to procure bids for the equipment from Sourcewell. Sourcewell is a Staples, Minnesota, company that through contracts offers public agencies access to playground equipment, splash pads, waterparks, waterslides, playable fountains, and other aquatic play equipment and related accessories.