Council, park board and inclusive‑playground advocates favor Barlow Farm but pause to gather neighborhood input

City staff, the Park Board and members of the Hudson Inclusive Playground (HIP) group reported that the Park Board voted 3–2 to recommend Barlow Farm Park as the preferred site for a planned inclusive playground, but council asked for additional neighborhood outreach and asked the Park Board to revisit Oak Grove as a secondary option before a final decision.

Staff summary and budget: City staff said the administration evaluated Barlow Farm Park, Hudson Springs Park and Oak Grove for the inclusive playground after federal grant funds previously expected to support the project were not awarded earlier this year. Staff provided conceptual site plans and cost estimates: Barlow Farm Park was estimated at about $1,250,000; Hudson Springs Park about $1,505,000; Oak Grove about $1,570,000. Staff said Middleton Road Park would have required major grading, a new parking lot and new restrooms and had a total estimate of roughly $2,800,000.

Tom Sheridan, a city staff member, summarized the remaining steps if council…