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HomeMy WebLinkAbout6.c. Jaycee Park Playground Equipment Replacement4ROSEMOUNTEXECUTIVE SUMMARY PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting: June 24, 2013 AGENDA ITEM: Jaycee Park Playground Equipment AGENDA SECTION: Replacement Old Business PREPARED BY: Dan Schultz, Parks and Recreation AGENDA NO. Director 6 c. ATTACHMENTS: None APPROVED BY: RECOMMENDED ACTION: Motion to approve the attached request for proposal for the replacement of the Jaycee Park Play Equipment. ISSUE Staff held a neighborhood meeting to the share information about the proposed project on Monday, June 17, 2013 at the Jaycee Park Shelter. Six people living in the area around the park attended. Approximately 680 post cards mailed to residents who lived near the park notifying them about the opportunity to hear more about the project and to provide input. Below is a summary of the comments that were provided at the open house: All of the neighbors in attendance said they had lived around the park for a long time and that using the park has been a big part of their families' lives. All were very complimentary concerning the layout and upkeep of the park. We heard comments that the new playground should include sensory play things that would provide opportunities for special needs children that may not be able to use many of the existing play features. It was pointed out that many overhead playground components such as zip lines, monorails, spinners, and horizontal ladders require an adult to lift a child to the component and to catch the child should they fall. It was suggested that we limit or eliminate these kinds of overhead features and focus on those children can access and use by themselves such as climbers, rockers and spinners. Rock and rope climbers seemed to be popular with those in attendance, as were spring rockers, surfers, and lily pad or spring pod type features. Everyone seemed to want more swings including additional bucket swings for toddlers and tire swings for bigger kids. There was concern about the temperature that the playground equipment, especially the slides, can reach on a hot sunny day. One suggestion was to rely only on tube slides since the tube itself shades the actual sliding surface, but another neighbor said even the tube slides get too hot and should be avoided. The color of the playground and the surfacing (what is under the equipment) used should be selected with temperature in mind. There was discussion about surfacing and everyone agreed that woodchips were favored over the existing pea rock but several people suggested that at least one level of the playground, if not all of it, should include rubber surfacing. The neighbors suggested that if possible, the playground should be constructed on one plane, and if not, one of the terraces should be eliminated so that it is built on two levels. There was interest in giving this playground or another playground in the community a natural theme and including some natural play features such as logs and boulders. One comment was that we should do something that is different from what most city parks offer. Several of the neighbors also requested that a basketball court be added to the park. BACKGROUND The Public Works Department budget includes funding ($75,000) for the replacement of the playground equipment at Jaycee Park. There is also $10,000 budgeted for a new border. The playground was installed at Jaycee Parkin 1992. SUMMARY Staff would like to discuss with the Commission the comments from the open house and discuss what items should be included in the request for proposal (RFP). Staff hopes to replace the play equipment this fall.