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Naples says Cambier Park playground beyond repair; staff seeks design bids and public input for replacement
Summary
City staff told Naples council on Jan. 13 that the 30‑year‑old wooden playground at Cambier Park has structural rot and other safety problems and should be replaced; staff outlined a design and procurement process and asked to solicit multiple vendor proposals.
Public works officials told the City Council on Jan. 13 the wooden Cambier Park playground, installed about 30 years ago, has deteriorated to the point that staff recommend full replacement rather than piecemeal repairs.
Parks and facilities director Chad Merritt and staff described repeated repairs, rot at ground contact points and corrosion of structural hardware. Maintaining the aging wooden structure in house had become infeasible, Merritt said; the manufacturer no longer supplies parts, some structural piles are bowed and several inspection findings document safety risks. Staff presented a conceptual design prepared to generate public input; the design emphasizes safety, inclusion for children of different abilities and poured‑in‑place surfacing that meets ASTM fall‑protection standards.
Council members and the public urged an inclusive public process. Several longtime volunteers and representatives of the Naples Botanical Garden and other civic organizations asked that the city consider working with Leathers & Associates, the original designer used in earlier regional park projects, and that the city preserve donor recognition and mature trees where feasible. Merritt said staff will avoid removing healthy trees and will work to retain the two existing pavilions. He recommended a procurement approach to solicit several design proposals from experienced playground firms, review them with the Community Services Advisory Board and convene public voting on finalist designs.
Staff sought authority to issue a formal solicitation for design proposals and to begin removal of any playground components judged by staff to be immediately unsafe. Councilmembers signaled support for beginning a public process and for moving promptly because inspection results show accelerating deterioration; no formal vote was recorded at the workshop. Staff said they will return with a recommended procurement approach and a schedule and that certain immediate, high‑risk elements will be taken down as needed to prevent injuries.
