DAPHNE, Ala. — Children now can play at May Day Park in Olde Towne Daphne without injury from rusted metal and broken equipment.

A new jungle gym — that cost more than $30,000 for material and installation — is ready for action as of Wednesday, when workers spread the safety carpet of wood chips below the equipment, according to David McKelroy, the city’s recreation director.

The tools and carpet are compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act; the gym — around 12-feet tall at its highest points — requires 12 inches of wood chips to protect children if they fall, he said.

The city council approved the removal of old equipment and allocated $31,000 for the new pieces when the condition of the toys was brought to light.

“The biggest thing is, the  equipment was over 15 years old,” he said. “It had rusty metal.

“Now they’ve got a little more equipment than was   previously there.

“There’s more activities and more children can play on it.”

The existing spring toys and picnic tables were still in use during the nearly three months that other pieces were out of commission, he said.

The recreation department will soon bring a swingset back that was removed during the bathroom construction, he said.

McKelroy plans to place the swings so they overlook the water.

That way, adults can also enjoy the park and “sit and watch the sunset on the bay,” he said.