The city is moving forward with the purchase of the equipment from Charlotte-based Cunningham Recreation, Parks and Recreation Director John Simeon said today.

“The fitness playground fits in well with the grant.” Simeon said. “The aim of the grant is to focus on childhood obesity.”

The equipment, part of a larger improvement program for the athletic field, will come with lesson plans that will be used in the summer free lunch program, which also requires a shelter that will be built from the grant funds. Recreation staff during these programs, which will be held in conjunction with the city school system, will teach children how to benefit from the equipment before and after lunch.

Simeon said he observed this type of equipment at Kure Beach. “It was packed with children using the equipment.”

Plans call for the equipment to be placed at the Eleventh Street entrance of Ledgerwood for use between sunrise and sunset like equipment at the city's other parks.

The city received what Simeon referred to as great deal from Cunningham that will allow it to buy the equipment at half-price if it is purchased before November 1. Installation of the equipment will be about six weeks after the purchase and the shelter, which will be purchased from a local contractor, will be erected soon after with the public works department helping set the base of the 20 by 40 building.

The Reynolds foundation specifically targeted the area around Ledgerwood because 80 percent of the children there receive free or reduced lunch, Simeon said. Overall, he said, Halifax County is in the state's top three in childhood obesity.

The city's recreation advisory board has worked tirelessly on this project for about the last nine months, he said. “The staff is eager to see the end product. The recreation advisory board has been instrumental through this process and very helpful in suggestions through this grant cycle. I've been very proud of all the members and their dedication.”