Troutdale plans temporary weekday closures to patch Imagination Station amid safety concerns
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Summary
Parks staff said Imagination Station playground shows widespread deterioration; a full replacement would cost about $430,000, the $50,000 budgeted in the current cycle was cancelled, and staff plan concentrated weekday closures and heavy use of seasonal crews to patch the surface this summer.
Troutdale parks staff told the advisory committee on May 21 that they plan short, concentrated weekday closures to complete safety repairs at Imagination Station and reduce liability while the city seeks longer‑term funding.
Parks Superintendent Jonah Jacobson said the playground’s poured‑in‑place surface has deteriorated in many areas and that patching work done in small pieces has repeatedly been removed or undermined. He said a complete replacement quote provided last winter was about $430,000 and that the city cancelled a $50,000 allocation this year because it would not cover a full replacement.
Jacobson said he plans to fence Imagination Station during work weeks and use seasonal and full‑time staff to do larger, more durable patches that are harder to remove than previous small repairs. “We’re going to close the playground during the work week, and then just hitting it hard with all hands on deck,” Jacobson said. He added that the patches require warm, dry weather — the glue and material need temperatures above about 70°F to cure properly — so the schedule will be weather dependent.
Committee members expressed support and concern about finding alternate play sites during closures. Jim Hill thanked staff for prioritizing safety. Tiffany Long and other members suggested clear, early public notice to avoid surprise for visitors and organized groups. Jacobson said the city will post outreach and signage and use website notices before any closures.
Jacobson also noted that Imagination Station draws many visitors from outside Troutdale; he cited third‑party cell‑tracking data showing a large share of users come from East Multnomah County and beyond. He invited neighboring jurisdictions and agencies to help fund a longer‑term replacement but said the immediate plan is remediation using city crews and seasonal labor in one‑week blocks until the work is complete or further funds are secured.
The committee did not vote on the plan; Jacobson sought committee input and committed to a public communications plan ahead of any work week closures.