Commission OKs $110,000 Sinclair Recreation contract to restore Campbell Field playground

The City Commission on March 11 authorized staff to contract with Sinclair Recreation in the amount of $110,000 to install a new playground and perform installation at Campbell Field Park.

Dan Vanderheide, director of public works, described the project as replacement of playground equipment that had been removed previously and said the top lot at the park will include play equipment designed for ages 2–5 while residents requested equipment for older children during the parks master-planning process. Vanderheide said: “This is the replacement of a playground that actually came down quite some time ago…There’s a small, what we would call a top lot at the park, which is designed for ages 2 to 5.”

Vice Mayor Saint Clair and several commissioners emphasized interest in a walking path and in preserving or reactivating the existing ball field. Vanderheide said staff is still working through walking-path routing and is coordinating with user groups who want to practice on the fields. Commissioner Cochin and others thanked staff for prioritizing park investment; Commissioner Keener asked about criteria used to set playground types and staff said allocations were guided by a social-equity index and resident survey results used to allocate park-improvement dollars.

The motion to authorize the contract was made by Vice Mayor Saint Clair and supported by Commissioner Kochan; roll-call votes were recorded in favor and the contract was approved. Staff said additional planning on walking-path alignment and potential baseball-field reuse would continue through the parks capital-improvement plan process.