STEUBENVILLE — The proposed establishment of a playground for children of various abilities at Jim Wood Park and possible addition of a Dollar General store at the city’s south end were among matters before Steubenville Council on Tuesday.

Council sunshined a memorandum of understanding with Unlimited Play of St. Peters, Missouri, to plan and seek funding for an inclusive playground that may be built at Jim Wood Park near John Scott Highway.

If approved by council at a future meeting, the non-profit organization will receive $10,000 for its efforts while the final scope of the project and its location would still require the panel’s approval.

According to its website, Unlimited Play has raised money through public and private grants, corporate and individual contributions and local fundraising campaigns for more than 100 playground structures in the U.S. ranging in cost from $300,000 to more than $2 million.

Unlimited Play officials note the playgrounds’ features are designed to appeal to all youth while also being accessible to those with physical or mental handicaps.

In some cases, that translates to improved safety for all users. For example, a merry-go-round with an in-ground base may be used by children in wheelchairs while shorter spaces between steps improves access for those with dwarfism.

Since the idea was pitched to council in July, city officials have discussed partnering with the Jefferson County Department of Developmental Disabilities and other county entities to pursue the project.

Mayor Jerry Barilla said Jim Wood Park has been eyed because it already has access to utilities and parking and would require less groundwork to accommodate the proposed playground.

In other business, council heard from local business owner Mark Nelson, who raised questions about the proposed sale of the former Grant School lot for the development of a Dollar General store.

Nelson noted the city once was occupied by thriving steel mills and its downtown area included larger department and grocery stores.

He asked council members whether the Dollar General store fits with their vision for the city’s future and questioned whether it’s appropriate for the city-owned property to be conveyed for a for-profit venture.

“There are a lot of other ideas that could be done there that could attract other businesses,” said Nelson, who added he’s suggested an open air market for the site.

He noted city officials have said no offers have been received for the property since the school was torn down 23 years ago.

He questioned whether it has been advertised as being for sale.

While no price for the lot has been publicly stated, city officials have suggested it could be minimal because it will cost a new owner hundreds of thousands of dollars to clean it up in compliance with current environmental regulations.

Following the meeting, Barilla said the property has been marketed by the Jefferson County Port Authority and others.

Pending council’s approval, the property may be sold by the port authority.

Barilla said the retail chain has expressed an interest in investing in the site when others have not.

The mayor said he approached four major grocery chains about opening downtown and was told there’s not sufficient population there for them to do so.

But he said residents of the city’s south end have expressed a strong need for a source of groceries within walking distance from their homes.

“To deny them of things that others have, I feel is not just,” said Barilla.

Council is slated to hear from representatives of Dollar General at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, a meeting arranged to occur before its next regular meeting at 7:30 p.m. that day at the City Building.