Kids excited about new playground equipment in Rome

BY BROOKS TAYLOR

Mt. Pleasant News

ROME ? Kids in Rome now have a place to burn off that excess energy or just play in the summer sun.

Volunteers in the community recently erected new playground equipment at the city park.

Rome City Clerk Mike White said that around 10 community volunteers spent two days placing the equipment in the park, finishing up in late May.

The equipment includes two slides, a crawl tube, a couple of ladders and a playhouse top. It was purchased from Boland Recreation in Marshalltown.

Improvements to the park, which included the new playground equipment, a small shelter house (built by the Amish) and a sand base under the playground equipment cost around $20,000. The city is thankful for about $15,000 in grants from the William and Donna J. Hoaglin Foundation Incorporated and the Enhance Henry County Community Foundation.

White wrote the grants and said the rest of the proceeds came from community residents and the Rome Days Committee. The committee hosted bake sales, a soup supper and other town events, he said.

The city clerk said new playground equipment, which adds to some existing metal equipment, had been in the works for a couple of years. ?We saw a need and wanted to fill the need. It is an upgrade and an addition,? he noted.

Thus far, it has been a hit, White remarked. ?Actually, we have quite a few kids using it. I have seen a dozen or more kids playing on it.?

He said he received quotes from several companies before deciding on Boland. ?We decided on the one that could give us what we wanted for our money.?

City clerk for four years, White said the renewal of Rome Days has been a boost to the community. Rome Days began again last year after a several-year absence and plans are to host the event July 9 from 2-10 p.m., at the city park.

Among the activities planned for Rome Days include a petting zoo, bouncy house, games and three bands will be performing. The bands include Amarillo, which includes several Mt. Pleasant musicians, Whiskey Friends from Salem and Whiskey Road of Burlington.

Money raised from Rome Days will be used for future town improvements and events. White said there are no immediate plans for town improvements, but related the city eventually would like a ?Welcome to Rome? sign placed at the entrance to the community.