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Township approves $168,671.86 in playground equipment awards for five parks
Summary
The Woodlands Township board approved contracts to replace equipment at five neighborhood and area parks using BuyBoard cooperative purchasing; the board authorized the CEO to execute agreements.
The Woodlands Township Board of Directors on March 20 approved awards for playground equipment replacements at five parks, authorizing the president and chief executive officer to execute final agreements.
The board voted to award purchases through BuyBoard for Artist Grove Park, High Oaks Park, Alden Trace Park, Alden Woods Park and Alden Place Park. John McGowan, Director of Parks and Recreation, described the program as part of a multi-year schedule to replace playgrounds around the 20-year-life mark, and said staff used resident surveys and safety inspections to prioritize sites.
The proposal the board approved named Playground Station of Texas Incorporated for Artist Grove Playground in the amount of $132,001.13; Fun Abounds (listed in the board packet as “Fund Abounds”) for High Oaks Playground in the amount of $135,000; McKenna Contracting for Alden Trace Playground in the amount of $133,896; Lone Star Recreation for Alden Woods Park Playground in the amount of $156,520.86 with a secondary Fun Abounds line item of $12,151 (packet language); and Fun Abounds for Alden Place Park Playground in the amount of $135,000. The packet text lists a combined total of $168,671.86 for one group of line items; the board-approved motion authorized the president and CEO to execute agreements in forms approved by township legal counsel.
McGowan told the board the department inspects playgrounds annually, has six certified playground safety inspectors on staff, and typically replaces equipment after about 20 years. He said the work is funded from the township’s capital reserve and that the current package came in under the $775,000 budgeted this year—roughly $705,000 in bid awards as presented, leaving contingency for surfacing or drainage work.
Board members asked about turnaround time, nonprofit reuse of removed equipment and the township’s practice of donating reusable pieces for repurposing abroad; McGowan said contracted partners and a ministry group collect and repurpose usable components. Director Anne Snyder asked whether leftover equipment photos could be shown to the board and public; staff said they would provide images.
The motion to approve the awards was moved and seconded; the board voted in favor and the motion carried.
The board also recorded that the playground replacement work is expected to take about six to nine months from ordering to installation, and that staff retains a small set of funds to respond to emergent resident requests or sudden needs during the year.
Ending: The purchases are intended to refresh neighborhood and area parks across the township this year; staff said they will return with execution documents in final legal form for the president and CEO to sign.
