Atwater Beach Playground Project Secures Funding

Friends of and the Shorewood Foundation committed $65,000 for , and Monday the Village Board approved an agreement among the two groups and the village to accept the money and apply it to the project.

The cost of the project includes installation, design and landscaping. The equipment is manufactured by Canada-based Elephant Play and would be installed by Play Focused Solutions, a local company. 

Much of the deliberation during the Village Board meeting focused on the language in the agreement. As trustees voiced their concerns with the terms of the agreement, Village Manager Chris Swartz and Village attorney Ray Pollen took note. 

One of the themes of the concern was the village's liability and obligation during the project and if the project is not complete. 

"I'm not trying to take anything away, I'm making sure that we are protecting them as well," said Village Trustee Jeff Hanewall.

Pollen responded by saying the agreement stipulates that village must have the money in hand "literally and figuratively" for the project to begin.

"The final ownership of the project is the village's," Pollen said. "It's more involved than FAB showing up and saying 'here's the money, now go out and do the project.' They have created the project and they have donated it to you." 

A 25-foot slide down the bluff at the beach was earlier this month. FAB plans on holding a beach party on June 23, with the new equipment installed.