Children walk around the new playground at Griggs Park in Carthage. The large rope structure in the foreground was one of the most popular features at the Dec. 3 ribbon-cutting.

Aug. 16—CARTHAGE, Mo. — A $5 million upgrade to Carthage city parks, funded by the McCune-Brooks Regional Hospital Trust, is nearing completion, with the last new playground under construction.

Among the top projects were a playground at Griggs Park Trailhead and ADA improvements at LaFave Park. Additional projects that will also be funded include a community tree-planting program and a ...