New playground equipment has been ordered for Lucille Ball Memorial Park in Celoron. The new playground will not be installed until the spring. P-J file photo

CELORON — The village is getting ready to swing into action on a long-sought playground project.

Celoron was recently awarded grant funds from the Sheldon Foundation and Chautauqua Region Community Foundation toward a new playground at Lucille Ball Memorial Park. Mayor Scott Schrecengost said the crucial aid is in addition to state funds the village is matching for the park upgrade.

Schrecengost said the playground — which will be handicap-accessible and include a variety of swings and slides for different ages — was just recently ordered and will take about 16 weeks to be delivered. However rubber material to be used on a portion of the playground requires consistent temperatures above 50 degrees, so installation will not take place until the upcoming spring.

Prior to that, the current playground needs to be removed.

“We’re going to tear that out, probably sometime around the end of August, tearing all that out and getting the ground prepared and leveled,” Schrecengost said. “Get everything ready to roll for spring.”

Lucille Ball Memorial Park has been in need of a new playground, but the village’s application for state funding had been denied for several years.

Schrecengost said the playground often becomes flooded after periods of heavy rain. He said the equipment, when first installed, was placed inside a “pit.”

Leveling the ground will be a focus once the current playground is removed.

The village has opted to go with Miracle Recreation for the new playground. The same company was used for the current equipment, and the village was given a 20% discount by going back to Miracle.

Schrecengost thanked the local foundations for supporting the community.

“You know, you can only raise taxes so much,” he said, “so it is nice that these foundations step up and help out, especially with our community.”