Pictured is the playground at Lucille Ball Memorial Park in Celoron. Village officials for years have sought state funding to have the playground upgraded. P-J photo by Eric Tichy

CELORON — For years, village officials have sought state funding to have aging playground equipment replaced at Lucille Ball Memorial Park.

Officials hope this year is the charm.

“We’ve been trying to upgrade for seven years,” Celoron Mayor Scott Schrecengost said of the playground. “We file the grant paperwork all the time and get rejected all the time. It just doesn’t sound like our application is up to snuff.”

Part of the problem with the playground, Schrecengost said, is that it was built two decades ago inside “a pit.”

Over the years, rotted wood chips on the playground have clogged up the drainage system, causing the area to become a muddy mess at times. It has resulted in a bevy of complaints from area residents.

“Putting (the playground) in a pit close to the lake was just looking for problems,” Schrecengost said.

The village again plans to file a Consolidated Funding Application with New York state. After several years of rejected applications, Schrecengost and the village clerk contacted a representative with the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation to discuss what steps could be taken to help the village’s chances to be awarded funds.

One suggestion was to hold a public meeting to go over plans for a new playground and to receive community input. Schrecengost said the village agreed with the idea and plans to hold a public meeting sometime within the next few weeks.

Costs to replace the playground and eliminate the problem pit is estimated at $150,000. If the village is awarded state funds for the project, matching money will be needed, which could pose its own set of challenges.

Schrecengost said the village would not be allowed to hold its own fundraisers to come up with the necessary funds to match the award; however, he said other organizations could take on the effort.