Osage Beach parks director outlines $256,500 capital list; board OKs outreach for new Peenic Park playground

Harry Gregory, parks operations manager for the City of Osage Beach, told the Board of Aldermen on Thursday that parks staff will seek bids and public input on several proposed capital items and requested permission to pursue a new playground at Peenic Park. "I do plan on putting the Peenic Park Pavilion on the, as my number 1," Gregory said, and later reported that "year to date, we've had 39,000 people use the dog park." Gregory said his list of likely capital requests totals about $256,500 but is subject to change as bids arrive.

The board’s action focused on one of Gregory’s items: replacing the 1997-age 5–12 playground at Peenic Park. Gregory said the city removed the old playground three years ago because the manufacturer was out of business and replacement parts were not available. He proposed dedicating roughly $200,000 of savings from recent park work to procure a new 5–12 playground with some inclusive features and asked the board to authorize community outreach and competitive bids.

Aldermen asked questions about features and site needs during the presentation. Alderman Recker asked whether a dog water fountain could be added at the dog park; Gregory said frost-free spigots are already at the dog-park entrance and such amenities could be added later. Alderman Collins raised safety questions about traffic at the lakefront parking area and asked whether speed bumps or a partial fence should be considered; Gregory said he could obtain quotes and recommended addressing parking-lot speeds first. Alderman Rose asked whether playground elements would be stored and whether the city had space for holiday-light displays; Gregory said storage exists at the Public Works building and that staff had surplus some older light displays.

After discussion, the board voted to direct parks staff to proceed with research and community outreach to determine playground equipment improvements at Peenic Park. Alderman Rucker moved the directive and Alderman Collins seconded; the motion passed on a roll call vote. The board did not approve any purchase or contract at Thursday’s meeting; staff said a follow-up vote would be required to accept bids or sign contracts.

Gregory also summarized other proposed capital spending under consideration: a precast flushing bathroom at the dog park, an additional Toro Workman utility vehicle (the current machine is nearly 10 years old), more surveillance cameras at City Park (with potential relocation of some existing cameras), upgraded electrical pedestals and new holiday light displays for City Park, chip-sealing a lakefront road segment if drainage work is completed, a batting cage at City Park, replacement picnic tables, and another carport to protect maintenance equipment.

Gregory said the dog park is the city’s most-used amenity at City Park, with over 6,000 users in each of June and July; he described the flushing bathroom as a higher-quality replacement for the current portable toilet. He said the parks department would solicit multiple bids, narrow vendors to a short list and then seek public input before returning to the board with recommended contracts and costs.

The board’s approval was for staff to proceed with outreach and bid solicitation only; any spending would require later board action.