Andrews – The town is buying a new playground.
The Town of Andrews and Cherokee County agreed to commit up to $40,000 each to purchase and install a new playground between the swimming pool and ball fields on Park Street.
“Literally, we have mudholes to play in Andrews,” Mayor James Reid said at a county board of commissioners work session on March 29. “Most everybody in Andrews comes to Murphy to play in the parks, and I think it’s very unfair.”
Officials propose to build a playground structure for kids ages 2-12 that has a total of 11 play activities and room for 65 children at one time. Officials also want to install additional swings and a charcoal grill within the playground area. A swing set on the property today will be incorporated into the new design.
Officials do not know the exact cost of the project, which will include a fence around the playground. Town officials will seek bids for the project over the next few weeks.
The town and county have an agreement to evenly split the cost of all capital recreation projects within Andrews. Since teaming up for the tennis court project a few years ago, the town hasn’t requested matching funds from the county for recreation improvements because the town didn’t have the money to pay its half.