Adopt Resolution #25-029, Central Park Playground Renovation and Replacement - Please Note: due to technical difficulties, this case was moved to the last case on the agenda.

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 site renovation in 2024.

The Playground Replacement Plan forecasts the next parks scheduled for consideration as Riverdale, Solstice and Central Park's (over the years 2024-2026).  Staff's analysis from detailed field inspections was that both Solstice and Riverdale Park's may be deferred until Central Park's playground is addressed. 

The purpose of this case is to consider approval of the renovation and replacement plan for the playground at Central Park in 2025, as recommended by the Park & Recreation Commission.

During the month's of November 2024 and January 2025 the Park & Recreation Commission explored the unique 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 $52,000 over the State Contract price. 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 at a value of more than $5k), and provide all site restoration and landscaping.  $301,000 would be from the Lawful Gambling Fund, (providing for a projected fund balance of approximately $130k following the 2025 project).  The remaining $148,000 would come from the Park Trust Fund. 

For the meeting, staff will provide additional background and context on the city's playgrounds and highlight important considerations for this significant improvement project for Central Park.

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 expectations for Central Park, the preferred playground surfacing of artificial turf and associated expenses may be funded by the Park Trust Fund (in addition to the Lawful Gambling Fund).

To summarize: Lawful Gambling Fund, $301,000, Park Trust Fund, $148,000 = $449,000.


Note: These expenditures are not from the General Fund (tax levy); and the Lawful Gambling Fund may only be used for purchases and programs that benefit youth in Ramsey, and the Park Trust Fund may only be used for park and trail related improvements in the city.  Additionally, the Xgrass artifical turf and the play equipment components costs were established by competitive bid via the Minnesota Department of Administration, Cooperative Purchasing Venture.

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

Motion to adopt Resolution #25-029, approving a playground replacement for Central Park at a not-to-exceed cost of $449,000, with an intended completion date of May 2025.