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Poulsbo awards Rotary Morrill Park retaining‑wall contract after safety concerns about rock wall
Summary
After parent and staff concerns that a decorative rock wall in the Rotary Morrill playground could disassemble and create hazards, the council approved a $55,458.82 construction contract to replace it with a gravity block wall system and improve drainage.
The Poulsbo City Council authorized a $55,458.82 construction contract Oct. 15 to replace an existing rock retaining wall at Rotary Morrill Park with a gravity block wall system.
Parks staff said the original rock wall is not performing safely in a playground environment: smaller stones can be pulled or moved by children and larger stones can loosen, creating fall or entrapment hazards. Parks staff also identified a low spot that ponds water south of the upper play area; the replacement project will install drainage improvements as part of the contract.
The project was publicly advertised. Two bids were received: Tree Surgeon LLC submitted the low bid of $55,458.82 and Hammersley Contracting submitted $73,777. The engineer’s estimate was about $73,000, so the low bid came in significantly under estimate. Funding will come from savings in a related Rob Park “play-for-all” project account, Parks Director Jeff (last name not provided) told the council.
Councilmember McVay moved to award the contract to Tree Surgeon LLC and to authorize the mayor to sign the contract and approve change orders up to 10% of the contract amount. The motion passed on a unanimous council vote.
Staff said some of the existing rocks will be reused for seating at Morrill Park and for plant-bed edging at the South End waterfront renovation project; others will be stockpiled for future municipal landscaping use.
Why it matters: Parks staff and parents said the rock feature posed a playground safety risk. Replacing it with a designed gravity block wall and adding drainage work addresses safety and usability concerns.
Next steps: Tree Surgeon LLC is expected to start work and complete the wall within roughly 20 working days; Parks staff expect completion before year‑end.
