By NEAL WAGNER / Managing Editor

ALABASTER – A playground in one of Alabaster’s city parks has re-opened to visitors, as the city recently finalized the installation of some new play equipment in Municipal Park.

The city closed the park in early May to remove some old, worn equipment in the park, and install the new equipment. The park’s playground, which is between Thompson Middle School and the old Thompson High School on Warrior Drive, re-opened on June 1.

Council members voted unanimously during a March 18 meeting to purchase a pair of Playbuilders playground structures for the park, which is off Warrior Drive between Thompson Middle School and the old Thompson High School.

The city paid $24,282 through the Sourcewell Purchasing Cooperative for the new equipment, which came in lower than expected, said Alabaster Parks and Recreation Director Tim Hamm. Funding for the equipment was included in the Parks and Rec Department’s 2019 budget.

Hamm said one piece of the new equipment will serve kids ages 2-5, and another will serve kids ages 5-12.

It was more cost-effective for the city to replace the playground equipment rather than repair the aging equipment already on-site, Hamm said.