Academy Park plan calls for new playground, shelter and expanded parking; existing concession building to be removed

City staff reported progress on the Academy Park redevelopment concept and design, saying the project is advancing toward 75% design and will replace the current concession building with a new shelter and related amenities. Zach said the design team, led by Pod Design, returned a 50% submittal and staff are working through details with consultants. The current plan calls for demolishing the existing concession structure, expanding the parking lot by about 40 spaces, redoing the basketball court, installing a new shelter with concessions, storage and restrooms, constructing a mountain-bike trailhead and adding a new playground and connecting pedestrian paths. “The playground is working towards the final concept, then to get to final construction documents and everything to get that ready for, hopefully bid early next year is the goal,” Zach said. Staff emphasized the focus on playground and shelter reconstruction as primary near-term tasks. No formal action was taken; staff said further design and final construction documents would be prepared for future bidding.