City Council Unveils Design Plans for New Inclusive Playground in Historic Park

The Gaithersburg City Council meeting on July 14, 2025, focused on the design and development of a new playground that aims to blend traditional play elements with a natural aesthetic reflective of the site's historic character. The playground design, developed in collaboration with a playground designer, features a color palette of barn red, earthy greens, and browns to harmonize with the surrounding landscape.

In response to feedback from the Historic District Commission (HDC), the design has been refined to remove overly cartoonish elements such as hay bales, cows, and sheep. Instead, the playground draws inspiration from the site's agricultural history, incorporating equipment that reflects its legacy as a working farm. Notably, the design includes multiple ADA accessible features, ensuring inclusivity for all users.

Highlighted features of the playground include an expression swing for intergenerational play, a duo spinner designed for sensory-sensitive children, and a 0 g swing chair for those with mobility issues. The surfacing will feature hoof print patterns, nodding to the site's past as a dairy farm, while sprout climbers resembling corn or beanstalks will provide a fun climbing experience. The tractor element remains a key feature, with its color adjusted to align with the park's natural tones.

The project is currently finalizing construction documents, with plans to solicit bids in September or October. A contract is expected to be presented to the council in November, with construction anticipated to begin in January 2026 and last approximately six to seven months. The playground is expected to open in the summer of 2026. Council members expressed enthusiasm for the project, with one member eager to provide feedback on the design.