Scott County parks staff presented playground design options for Great Crossing Park and sought direction on whether to proceed with equipment procurement from a vendor on the state bid list.

Why it matters: The County has $150,000 in the current budget for playground equipment at Great Crossing Park. Parks director Drew Beckett asked the court for permission to proceed with a purchase and for guidance on surfacing and site placement; the selected option affects both initial cost and future maintenance.

What was proposed. Beckett presented a site plan and two equipment/surface price points. A $149,000 package includes playground structures with colored crumb-rubber mulch surfacing; a higher-end poured-in-place surfacing option would raise cost to approximately $221,000. Beckett described the $149,000 option as meeting current needs and the poured-in-place surface as longer-lasting but significantly more expensive.

Magistrates and parks staff also discussed site logistics and safety. Beckett said he favored placing the playground near the existing parking at the southeast end of the site to take advantage of the field layout and to use a hillside for future integrated slides; he asked landscape architect Monica Sumner to provide a site-plan review and parking-extension recommendations before the order is placed. Several magistrates flagged parking limitations during events and asked staff to add parking and a safe pedestrian connection (sidewalk or crosswalk) between parking and the playground.

Funding and procurement. Beckett said Miracle of Kentucky and Tennessee is on the state bid list and could supply the equipment without a separate local bid. The court has $150,000 budgeted for the project this year; staff asked whether they should seek additional funds or pursue the $149,000 package. One magistrate recommended exploring grants for poured-in-place surfacing.

Schedule. Beckett asked to place a purchase item on the next county agenda (June 13). The court asked staff to return on Friday with a final recommendation and to bring a site plan showing parking adjustments prior to placing the order. No purchase contract was approved at the meeting.

Community considerations. Magistrates emphasized phased construction so future park expansion and additional ballfields would not be impeded, and requested staff include ADA routing and pedestrian safety in the final design. Beckett said the playground could be expanded in a second phase when additional park fields are built.

Ending: Staff will return to the court with a site-plan addendum from the county’s consultant and a recommendation on surfacing and bid/contract approach; the court expected a purchase authorization to be considered at the next business meeting.