GOWANDA — The Gowanda Area Redevelopment Corporation, or GARC, has decided on the play structure it will add to Gateway Park. The park, which was finished in 2016, replaced a former glue factory then landfill to beautify the area near Palmer Street.

Sean Christopher of GARC presented the two proposals to the Gowanda Village Board during its May meeting. The budget for the project is $100,000.

“What we are looking at is expanding the current playground structure as it stands,” Christopher said.

The park currently has four elements: a spinner bowl, a two-bay swingset, rope dome (like a spider web) and a low-level climbing structure.

GARC approved to add more playground facilities that follow a similar theme of what is already there. The addition will implement more structures for children to utilize.

“A lot of playgrounds are putting in zip lines and different structures for a lot of different mobility and things like that,” Christopher said. “It’s good for kids and adults.”

GARC ultimately denied to move forward with a different proposal that had a zipline available.

“In the end, I would like to thank Mr. Christopher, GARC and Mr. Walgus for getting the ball rolling on this. It looks tremendously exciting,” Gowanda Mayor David Smith said. “We are in a time in American history and in this community as well, where we need to provide positive opportunities for youth to be active and to be involved and to be together in a positive place.

“Looking at this, if I were a kid growing up in this community and not just an immature adult, I would be so excited to get involved with some of these things. In fact, I might be anyways.”