MARSHALL — The facilities at the new Marshall Aquatic Center won’t be only for swimming. At Tuesday’s Marshall City Council meeting, council members voted to approve the purchase of a playground structure that will be open to the public.

Marshall Parks and Recreation Superintendent Preston Stensrud said the city had an opportunity to buy the playground equipment at a reduced cost through a grant program. The purchase would also be supported by contributions from a community donor, Stensrud said.

“We wanted to bring this to you guys because it wasn’t originally included in the construction of the site,” Stensrud told council members. “We do have space available, and we do have a single-source anonymous donation to cover the costs of this playground.”

Marshall City Administrator Sharon Hanson said the addition of the playground was a “substantial change” to the Aquatic Center project, and one that city staff wanted to take to the council.

Agenda packet materials from Tuesday’s council meeting said the city received a quote of $172,001.54 from playground equipment supplier GameTime. If a purchase was agreed upon, the cost would be reduced by $85,954.76. With the addition of freight and material tariff surcharge costs, the total purchase cost would come to $103,911.75, Stensrud said.

Stensrud said adding the playground would mean building some additional sidewalks not included in the purchase price.

“Our staff would do the installation, and then put in the safety surfacing like we’ve done in our other playgrounds,” he said.

The playground would be accessible to the public year-round, without paying Aquatic Center admission.

“It would be outside of the fenced area, which would allow people to use it in the seasons when the pool isn’t open, but also during our designated break times” at the Aquatic Center, Stensrud said.

“We consider this playground addition to be part of the (Aquatic Center) project, not separate from the project,” Hanson said. Hanson said the city has close to $800,000 in pledge donations toward the Aquatic Center, as well as construction contingency funds.

Council member Craig Schafer said members of the Aquatic Center committee had discussed the playground addition, and felt comfortable with it even before learning about the donor contribution to it. “When you look at that area and the availability of other park activities in that area, I think this is a good enhancement for that entire neighborhood, even when the Aquatic Center is not operating,” Schafer said.

Council member James Lozinski said the playground purchase being supported by a community donation was another positive. “That makes it a very easy decision, for something making our community better,” he said.

Council members voted to approve purchasing the playground equipment.