BELLE — Belle aldermen voted June 11 to purchase used playground equipment estimated to cost $100,000 new, with plans to upgrade both the city park and the Belle/Bland Community Center.

Mayor James Mitchell told the board that Alderman Seth Klein located the equipment in the St. Louis area and brought the opportunity to the city’s attention.

“Seth found some equipment down around St. Louis,” Mitchell said. “Playground equipment, we looked at it, and we kind of estimated it to be probably around $100,000 worth of equipment.”

Before bringing the proposal before the board, Mitchell said he discussed the opportunity with aldermen and sought feedback on the potential purchase.

“So I messaged the board and talked to them to get their feel for it,” Mitchell said.

He then contacted the seller and asked him to hold the equipment until the board could formally consider the purchase.

“I told him I couldn’t make no commitment to it until after tonight, but I asked him if he would hold it, and he said yes,” Mitchell said.

According to Mitchell, the owner initially sought $18,000 for the equipment. Mitchell said he attempted to negotiate a lower purchase price.

“I asked him, I said, ‘How set are you on $18,000?’” Mitchell said. “I said, ‘Well, we can entertain $16,500.’ He said, ‘I would do that. I’ll take the $16,500.’”

However, Mitchell said the seller later proposed a different arrangement.

“Then he calls me back about five minutes later and says, ‘Hey, I’ve got a better deal for you. You agree to the $18,000 and I’ll tear it all down, and you just come and get it,’” Mitchell said.

City officials ultimately favored handling the disassembly themselves because of reconstruction concerns.

“Some of this equipment is big platform equipment. It’s got four and five slides on it,” Mitchell said. “If he takes it apart, we don’t know how to put it back together.”

Instead, Mitchell said volunteers have already offered to help dismantle and transport the equipment.

“I’ve got some guys that’s volunteered to go down and help tear it down, trucks and trailers to go get it,” he said.

The board also discussed plans to use the purchase to improve recreational facilities at both the city park and the Belle-Bland Community Center.

Mitchell said the city’s existing wooden playground structure would be relocated from the park to the community center and refurbished.

“What we think we can do is, the old wooden one that’s out at the park, we’ll take it down, mark it, we’re going to take it and move it to the community center,” Mitchell said.

The renovation would include replacing deteriorated materials and adding new components.

“We’re going to sleeve them with plastic, take the boards off, put composite boards on it, order a new slide,” Mitchell said. “We’ve got a brand new piece of equipment for the community center and a playground.”

Under the proposal, the current swing set would remain at the city park while an additional swing set acquired through the purchase would be installed at the community center.

“Take the swing set that we’re getting, put it out at the community center,” Mitchell said.

Board members viewed the purchase as an opportunity to significantly improve local playground facilities at a fraction of the cost of purchasing new equipment.

Following discussion, the board approved the purchase with a 4-0 vote.

Once members agreed to purchase the equipment, they began discussing how to pay for it. City Treasurer-Office Manager Charro Reasor estimated the park budget currently contains approximately $8,700, leaving a funding gap if the equipment is purchased.

Board members discussed using money market funds and potentially receiving reimbursement from the Belle Community Betterment Association.

Alderman Rebecca Withouse suggested revisiting the creation of a parks board to assist with fundraising efforts and future park improvements.

“Maybe we need to revisit the park board again,” Withouse said. “Maybe we need to reach out to people to sign up for that, because I mean there’s fundraising.”

Withouse said she would be willing to support fundraising efforts herself.

“I’d be down to go donate to it. I’d be down to put some skin in the game and maybe bake sales, things like that, that a park board could work on helping,” she said.

She said greater community involvement could help strengthen recreational opportunities for local children.

“Where the community is getting involved, and we’re kind of building a better future for our kids,” Withouse said.

The board approved a motion to transfer money from the city’s money market account to cover the remaining cost of the playground equipment, with the expectation that some of the expense could be reimbursed in the future.