A controversial park project is moving forward despite transparency concerns posed by Councilwoman Amber White, who represents the district the park is planned for.

The contract using $1.3 million in American Rescue Plan funding for an all-inclusive playground at Ipe Park has been approved by the Youngstown Board of Control during a special meeting held Wednesday morning. All that's left to do is sign the contract with the Youngstown Foundation, which will oversee the project.

Playground plans include equipment that would be accessible to children with physical and mental disabilities.

However, residents of the 7th Ward, where this is planned to be built have raised concerns about it including its location to a fire station and Interstate 680 and Midlothian Road. The noise levels produced by cars traveling in this area would be disruptive to children with autism, White said.

White adds that her residents are concerned about how the park would be maintained. They don't want a park to be built just for it to be neglected by the city over time.

"I'm not against having a playground in," White said. "However, my residents are concerned about the location they want to put it in at."

Overall, the main concern about the park is the alleged lack of transparency about the park. White says it's not clear where the money is coming from or how it's going to be spent.

White tried to repeal the $1.3 million in ARP funding in December. Now that the contract has been approved and its signing imminent, she says she's trying to find a silver lining in it all.

"I trust that the Youngstown Foundation will be transparent about how they plan to move forward with this project," White said. "I want to know what I can do to help them move forward."

This includes the possibility of finding a new location for the playground or improving safety features for children that would go to the park.

White is set to present these plans and concerns to the Youngstown City Council on Wednesday night.