By Jennifer Vogel, Minnesota Public Radio News

OWATONNA — In the middle of Manthey Park, a hulking piece of red and yellow playground equipment is rusting and chipping paint.

Installed in 1987, the conglomeration of ladders and slides and crawling tunnels has long since passed its expiration date, said Jeff McKay, Owatonna’s director of parks and recreation.

The cash-strapped city has been unable to replace it as parts wear out or become dangerous, so McKay simply removes them. The shrinking playground centerpiece is short a chin-up bar and its original slide. A makeshift one stands in its place.

“This kind of equipment should be replaced every 15 years,” McKay said. “This is on its 25th year. Every year that goes by, we hold our breath.” The city hopes to install a new play apparatus, at a cost of $70,000, in 2012. “It’s a top priority to get it replaced.”

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