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Depot Park playground plan comes in about $400,000 over budget; staff will revise package
Summary
Design proposals for five parks arrived above the budgeted amount; staff told council Depot Park was the largest single overage and said they will rework equipment selections and allocations to reduce the total to the budgeted $1.6 million.
City staff presented playground design and cost proposals for five parks on July 14 and told the council the overall package came in about $400,000 over the budgeted $1.6 million, with Depot Park accounting for the largest single overage.
Parks staff and the city’s vendor provided layouts and itemized pricing for each park; Deputy Director Gail (presenter) said the Depot Park proposal with multiple specialty features (including themed “choo‑choo” play structures) drove the overshoot. "Depot Park is 855,000. So we'll take that money out of there," staff said, adding that the city would examine the design and remove or replace higher‑cost items to hit the established budget.
Council members asked for time to review the detailed package and for staff to propose cost‑saving alternatives. Staff said pricing is valid for 30 days and urged council feedback this week so staff can present a revised, budget‑compliant package at the next council meeting for approval and ordering. The city emphasized that funds for the five‑park program are budgeted in the current fiscal year and the goal is to issue orders quickly to preserve pricing and move installations forward.
Next steps: Staff will return with a revised scope that trims Depot Park’s plan and looks for modest reductions across the other four parks to remain within the $1.6 million allocation. Councilmembers encouraged staff to preserve popular features where possible and to prioritize safe, maintainable equipment that maximizes community use.
