(L to R) City Council member Jim Leathley, City Manager Randy Bridge and Program Coordinator Elle Evans prepare to cut the ribbon on the new baby swings at Smith Park.

The City of New Carlisle held a ribbon cutting for the newest addition to the Smith Park Playground on Friday. The city now has baby swings.

“We had no place for toddlers to swing,” said City Manager Randy Bridge. “By incorporating the toddler swing set at Smith Park with the big playground, we have created an atmosphere where mom can push toddler and watch the other small kids play.”

Bridge said that the city has done the same thing at Willowick Park.

The new equipment was paid for by a grant through the Clark County Combined Health District.

“We want to have open accessibility for children of all abilities,” said Elle Evans, Creating Healthy Communities Program Coordinator for the Health District. “We didn’t have a single infant swing, not only for babies, but for children who can’t sit up or need assistance in sitting up.”

Bridge said he has high hopes for city park playgrounds in 2018. “I’ll be going after some all-inclusive playground equipment so that kids with developmental disabilities can enjoy the playground equipment as well,” he said.

Bridge said that he would be seeking grant money for the playground equipment, but would also set aside General Fund money also. “Grant money only covers so much, so I probably will put some money back when we talk about the budget for 2018,” he said.

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