MARSHALL — As construction on the new Marshall Aquatic Center continues, the city is also making plans for park features outside the aquatic center.

On Tuesday, Marshall City Council members voted to award a quote for a shelter that would help provide shade near playground equipment outside the new Aquatic Center.

Marshall Parks and Recreation Superintendent Preston Stensrud said Marshall city staff had received an estimate for a park shelter from St. Croix Recreation, of Stillwater. With state contract pricing, the 16 by 20-foot shelter would have a cost of about $29,000. Stensrud estimated that installation of the shelter would cost an additional $15,000.

Stensrud said members of the public had supported more shade in Marshall parks. It was also an opportune time to look at building a shade structure for a playground area near the Aquatic Center site.

“We’re right in this area now pouring concrete,” Stensrud told council members.

He said it looked like the city would have the funds for the purchase.

“We’ve evaluated the contingency, our general conditions budget line, and just due to sponsorships, donations and everything on the budget track, we’re in a good place.”

In October, the city council had approved a roughly $103,000 purchase for playground equipment that would be located near the new Aquatic Center. The playground would be outside the fence for the Aquatic Center, and open to the public year-round.

Stensrud said construction of the park shelter would have about an 18 to 20-week lead time. “But we would have all of the footings in place, and it would just need to be set and assembled, essentially,” he said.

Council members voted to approve the purchase of the shelter from St. Croix Recreation.