The Kingsford City Council has approved purchasing this "pirate ship" play set for the Ford Addition Park, using funds donated by former residents Rick and Marty Lagina of “The Curse of Oak Island” fame. (Contributed photo)

KINGSFORD — The city council Monday approved purchasing a wooden ship-style playground set and tables for Ford Addition Park, using money donated by the Kingsford natives who star in the television series “The Curse of Oak Island.”

The pirate-themed playground equipment is a nod to the History Channel series that since 2014 has followed a team led by Rick and Marty Lagina as they search for a legendary treasure on the island off Nova Scotia.

The Lagina brothers donated $100,000 to the city during the 2023 centennial to construct a pavilion in Ford Addition Park in memory of their parents, George and Ann Lagina. All had lived in the Ford Addition.

The playground set and tables were purchased with money left over from the pavilion project. The total cost of both purchases was $17,553. The city will pitch in the $625 that exceeded the amount of the donation.

The Amish Made Wooden Pirate Ship Playground Set, built by Pinecraft, is 8 feet wide, 18.6 feet long and 9 feet, 10 inches in height. It includes 4-foot, 5-foot and 7-foot decks, a three-position swing beam, two belt swings, a trapeze, a 10-foot wave slide, a turbo tube, a 4-foot entry ladder, 10-foot gang plank, two inside ladders and a ship’s wheel.

Four 8-foot plastic picnic tables, made of recycled plastic, will be installed inside the new pavilion at the park for year-round use.

The playground set comes as a kit and the tables need some assembling.

City Manager Mike Stelmaszek told the council he believes the Lagina families will like the playground set.

In other business, the council:

— Agreed to have a public hearing Aug. 18 on a home occupation exemption request for a tattoo studio at 309 Doraland St. Nicole Clement made the request, explaining to the council she would like to move her current business from downtown Iron Mountain to her home. Part of the house would be remodeled so the tattoo studio would be completely separate from the family living areas. The studio would also be inspected and licensed through the health department. She doesn’t expect much traffic increase because she only schedules one appointment at a time. Being at her house would give her a more flexible schedule, but the tattoo hours would be during the day.

— Approved a request to send Kingsford Public Safety Sgt. Brian Adams to the Hostage Negotiator Conference Oct. 29-30 in Traverse City, Mich. The cost is already in the training budget and he will be able to carpool with other local agencies, according to Kingsford Public Safety Director Brandon Rutter.

— Heard that the City Hall summer schedule is in place. Foot traffic has been monitored since the week before the new schedule, and no problems have been reported.

— Agreed to a request to send Assistant City Clerk Tanya Hiltonen to the Upper Peninsula Human Resource Association training seminar Aug. 13 in Marquette. The training is free and will provide her with mandatory education points needed for her to maintain her human resource certification, Stelmaszek said.

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Marguerite Lanthier can be reached at 906-774-3500, ext. 85242, or mlanthier@ironmountaindailynews.com.