Authorities investigate unauthorized Kiwanis Park playground equipment removal

PENDER COUNTY, NC (WWAY-TV) – WWAY has learned that Pender County law enforcement is looking into the transfer of county-owned property to a Hampstead neighborhood.

It has to do with playground equipment at Kiwanis Park.

“I’m actually here to celebrate something that happened in our community,” said Beth Butler.

Butler, a community leader in Hampstead said on Monday her and several volunteers took part in the dismantling of a playground, deemed unsafe, at Kiwanis Park.

The park closed on Monday as it makes way for a new, renovated playground.

Butler said the Eagles Watch neighborhood, a community of 1,200 residents, was in need of a playground.

“They had been saving up money for a playground and it’s very expensive to start from scratch,” Butler said.

Butler claims the county approved her request to take a slide, swings and other parts.

“Chairman Burton, I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart,” Butler said.

This left many residents like Kenneth Ramsey who attended the meeting and was confused by Butler’s comments.

“Most people had no clue that this had even been done,” Ramsey said.

The old playground equipment is considered surplus property.

“That’s not the appropriate way to get rid of surplus county property,” Ramsey said.

According to state policy, surplus property should either be sold to the highest bidder or trashed, but it appears that policy wasn’t followed.

“If it was usable, repairable why did they appropriate a quarter of a million dollars, if it wasn’t why are they putting it in another playground?” Ramsey said.

Now the matter has been handed to law enforcement for review. In a statement to WWAY, the Pender County Communication Manager said:

“Pender County did not authorize the taking of the playground equipment from Hampstead Kiwanis Park, and the matter has been referred to law enforcement for review. While law enforcement is reviewing the matter, Pender County will have no additional information to provide.”

On Friday, several pieces of used playground equipment, including a slide and swings, which Butler told WWAY she had requested, was laying on the ground near the Eagles Watch Community Clubhouse.

“Why and how could this possibly happen,” Ramsey said.