KEENE — The Keene town board approved the purchase of a new van to replace one that shuttles hikers between Marcy Field and the Garden trailhead, in an effort to cut down on parking issues at one of the most popular High Peaks entrances.

On the morning of Dec. 12, town Supervisor Joe Pete Wilson Jr. and others opened two sealed bids for a 15-passenger van, from Egglefield Ford and Marchese Ford. The Egglefield bid of $33,385 was accepted since it was about $600 cheaper than the Marchese bid.

Town Councilman Robert Biesemeyer said he had heard concerns that the van would not be handicap accessible, but those concerns were dismissed by Wilson.

“Wilson … said a new shuttle bus would have cost $125,000,” meeting minutes say. “He said he feels this is the way to go due to the primary use being a hiker shuttle and the difference in cost.”

The new van will replace the town’s current van, which Wilson said is no longer capable of navigating the road to the Garden trailhead, and said he wasn’t sure if the old van would be fixed up and used for other town functions.

The purchase of the van was approved unanimously. Last year, the town charged $10 for parking at the Garden or for a round-trip shuttle ride from Marcy Field, where overflow parking is provided.