KINGFIELD – A matching grant of $25,000 for a town playground has received state approval.

Greg Davis, town administrator, shared the late-December letter of state approval from the Land and Water Conservation Fund with selectmen Monday night.

A small committee has been working since last September to replace the 1985 wooden structure in the town park located behind the town office, said chairwoman Beth Luce. The committee wants to purchase plastic playground structures that are safer and are guaranteed to last 100 years, she said.

The committee visited other playgrounds and chose a design that includes swings, a slide and a climbing facility with larger pieces that offer a bar and stairs. The equipment is geared for age 3 and under while larger pieces are for ages 3-to-11. Photos and the 28-page-grant application are available to view at the town office.

The committee raised $24,900. The matching grant will cover the $47,000 price tag.

“It’s very expensive but the equipment will last and is safer and good for the environment,” Luce said, admitting that she was amazed the committee had been able to attain funding.

Committee members held special fundraisers including an appeal letter that brought contributions from $5 to $50, she said.

“The good part is that for every $5 donation, the matching grant now makes is worth $10,” she said.

The board also plans to discuss awarding the only bidder, Wright-Pierce, the engineering bid for a subsurface disposal system for waste water. The system for Nestle Waters/Poland Spring bottling plant was part of the state-approved TIF plan adopted by town voters.

The plan is to get started by spring, Davis said, for an anticipated Oct. 1 start for the bottling plant. Poland Spring will begin the hiring process in February through the Maine Career Center, he said.

In other business, Davis also reported Monday on winter parking limits and an Androscoggin Valley Council of Government proposed prescription drug plan that would provide for collection of outdated drugs to prevent them from being discarded into sewer and water systems.