OBSERVER File Photo Pictured is the damaged playground equipment at Ryckman Park shortly before it was removed.

BROCTON — The Village of Brocton is determined to have the playground at Ryckman Park ready to go for this summer.

Brocton Mayor Craig Miller recently spent approximately two hours meeting with a playground company to discuss how to proceed with replacing the damaged equipment at Ryckman Park.

“I learned a lot about playgrounds,” Miller joked.

Playground equipment that was damaged in a storm this past winter has recently been removed from Ryckman Park. The Village received $20,819 from its insurance, but the cost to replace the damaged equipment was initially expected to be much more expensive than what the Village had received.

Through Miller’s recent discussions with a new company, however, he believes that by purchasing discontinued items or items on sale that the Village will be able to replace the equipment for “a huge amount of savings” to the Village. Miller estimated the cost to replace the equipment at the playground to be approximately $25,000, plus installation costs. He believes the cost to the Village after applying the insurance funds will be around $14,000. The Village still has more than $50,000 of American Rescue Plan Act funds available, which will soon expire if not allocated by this fall.

In recent months, residents of Brocton and Portland have formed the Ryckman Park Revitalization Committee, led by co-chairs Nicole Young and Emily Pokoj. The Committee is still seeking additional members to provide input for future improvements to the Park. A donation account for the Committee has been set up at Can Kings in Fredonia.

Miller suggested the Committee focus on long-term improvements for Ryckman Park, while the Village would focus on the immediate playground replacement in order to be operational as soon as possible.