2025 Playground Replacement Planning—Central Park

About 5 years ago, City Council approved the Playground Replacement Policy which generally informs the city on which playgrounds are to be replaced and when. Since then, the city has refurbished the playgrounds at Peltzer, Rabbit, and River's Bend Parks pursuant to the policy and plan—with Alpine Park's playground also receiving a complete replacement and renovation in 2024.

The Playground Replacement Plan forecasts the next parks scheduled for consideration as Riverdale, Solstice and Central Parks (over the years 2024-2026).  Staff's analysis from recent field inspections was that Solstice Park can be deferred until Riverdale and Central Park are addressed. Since then and following the discussion at the November Park & Recreation Commission meeting—a reassessment to include Flintwood Terrace Park's playground finds that it ranks somewhat even with Riverdale and Solstice—and that Central Park's playground may be better suited for a complete renovation, with one of the three neighborhood parks considered after 2025.

The purpose of this case is to continue the planning process for the renovation of a playground in 2025, specifically Central Park.

As was discussed at the November regular meeting, the city has an opportunity to purchase a new, multi-faceted playground befitting the prominence of Central Park as both a community park and the city's flagship park—at a savings of more than $74,000. The first several attachments depict the play components, costs, capacity of children, along with a quote for artifical turf surfacing (versus the engineered wood fiber used at Alpine Park last year).  This 10-tons of play equipment with a user capacity of about 250 children at a time, would have a community investment cost of approximately $449,000. The following is a summary of the project costs:

Playground components, freight and installation....................$301,000
Artificial Turf surfacing............................................................$132,000
Removals and site prep..............................................................$6,000
Contingencies...........................................................................$10,000

Total                                                                                       $449,000

The above total assumes that staff would modify the playground boulder border as necessary (two or more mobilizations with heavy equipment), and provide all site restoration and landscaping.  $301,000 would be from the Lawful Gambling Fund, leaving an approximate $26,000 fund balance.  The remaining $148,000 would come from the Park Trust Fund. (Note: This scenario may result in not enough funding for a playground replacement in 2025.)

For the meeting, staff will detail additional aspects of the proposed project and respond to Commission inquiries and ideas.

Pursuant to the Playground Replacement Policy, funding for playground replacements in any year would be from the Lawful Gambling Fund. In the instance of 2025, and given the scope, size and cost of the playground meeting the expectation for Central Park, the preferred playground surfacing of artificial turf and associated expenses may be funded by the Park Trust Fund versus the Lawful Gambling Fund.

Staff supports a playground replacement and renovation project for Central Park in the amount of $449,000 that this case discusses.

Based upon discussion, motion to recommend City Council approve a playground replacement for Central Park at a not-to-exceed cost of $449,000, with an intended completion before the Summer of 2025.