BERNE — The town of Berne will be getting a playground that uses natural features and recycled materials in the hopes of cutting the costs of pricey playgrounds and introducing children to nature.

The playground is being created in the Berne Town Park and will include a smaller playground structure purchased by the town and a larger surrounding play structure created from natural materials.

The smaller cedar-made playground was purchased on a bid awarded to Bears Playgrounds for $16,768 with a grant secured by state Assemblyman Angelo Santabarbara, said town Councilwoman Karen Schimmer. It is scheduled to arrive at the park by the last week of June or the first week of July, she said.

The park currently has a swingset and a sandbox as the only play features, said Schimmer, although children also use the baseball fields and horseshoe court on occasion. The new playground will be made from rounded white cedar logs, and will include slides, platforms, a bridge, and monkey bars. The old equipment will stay for now.

Mark Hohengasser, a member of the Switzkill Farm Board and a planner for New York State Parks and Recreation, has volunteered to design a “natural playground” around the smaller play structure. A natural playground uses materials from nature to create play structures. Schimmer, the board liaison for Switzkill Farm, had approached him about designing it, said Hohengasser.

“I see this project that can bring the community together,” he said, explaining that he is seeking members of the community to donate items for the playground.

Materials used would include rocks and boulders, fill to create land forms, locust-tree logs, and tires that are five feet in diameter. Hohengasser said he would like to create a slide that goes through an earth-made tunnel, so it would be like sliding underground. He would also like to create slides using the slope of a small hill.

Town councilman Joseph Golden donated a large amount of logs, said Hohengasser, and he’s hoping to hear from someone with the town highway department if fill is ever left over from a project that could be used. Schimmer said another community member offered large truck tires. Relying on donations, she said, could make costs beyond the playground structure nearly nothing.

“Theoretically, it could all be donated,” Hohengasser said, of the materials, “With the exception of a few different items.”

Schimmer said a local group, the Playmakers, has been working since last year to raise money and gather community support.

Hohengasser said the town could apply for certain grants to fund some purchases. He said it would not compare to the high cost of a manufactured playground.

“Purchased playgrounds are expensive,” he said, estimating most cost $100,000 to $200,000. Schimmer agreed that they are costly, describing a tractor made for playing on costing $26,000.

A public workshop was held on May 18 at the park, where Hohengasser and Schimmer heard public comment.

“I think people were happy with what I kind of presented as a concept,” Hohengasser said. Schimmer agreed.

Hohengasser, who used to work both designing and inspecting playgrounds for Missouri’s parks and recreation program, said the playground will be compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act as well as other safety regulations.

The project, he said, will likely occur in phases.

“It is a large project,” he noted, “It might take one year, might take five years, might take more.”

Schimmer said the playground structure will be the first phase to be completed and is likely to be the only phase completed this year.

Another feature Hohengasser would like to include is a stream table. The cement platform would have sand and flowing water so children can learn about how a stream works. Hohengasser would like the design to be based off of the Switzkill Valley watershed. He is also looking to have local master gardeners plant a garden at the playground.

Schimmer said she would like to see a bike path and possibly have town residents donate commemorative bricks to help fund the project.

Besides saving money, Hohengasser thinks this type of playground will benefit children by connecting them even more to nature.

Schimmer, who previously worked as both a teacher and a librarian, agrees, saying that a natural playground allows children to use creativity and their imaginations to play, making it more spontaneous.

She also said it connects the children to the town’s environment.

“We’re a rural community,” she noted.