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Family donation advances Robins Park treehouse‑style playground plan; budget and surfacing remain under review
Summary
Staff described a donated, treehouse‑style playground concept for Robins Park that will use a mix of donor funds and CIP allocations; surfacing choice (engineered wood fiber vs. poured‑in‑place rubber) and total funding remain to be finalized.
The commission heard on May 20 that a family donation will fund a major renovation of the Robins Park playground into a treehouse‑style design, with village CIP money contributing to professional services and construction costs.
The project matters because it will replace aging playground equipment, create a distinctive play environment and draw on private philanthropy combined with village capital funds to deliver community amenity upgrades.
Mike said staff and the donor family have worked on a concept for a treehouse‑style playground and that the total project cost exceeds the donation; the village has CIP funding that will be used to cover professional services and part of the construction budget. He described the current plan footprint as fixed under standards and said a sensory garden was discussed but removed from the initial scope to meet budget constraints.
Commissioners asked about surfacing. Staff said option‑1 surfacing is engineered wood fiber (EWF) with drainage (the plan presented uses EWF within current budget); poured‑in‑place rubber surfacing is more expensive and could be pursued later if additional funding (grants or donations) becomes available. Staff also noted accessibility considerations and said engineered wood fiber remains allowable under current ADA guidance, though poured surfacing is more accessible and costs more. Mike said the design aims to avoid duplicating nearby tot‑lot amenities and to offer a unique play experience for older children.
The timeline depends on design completion, bidding and weather; staff suggested construction would likely follow the Burns playground schedule with boxed equipment staged prior to spring installation. The commission did not take formal action but will be briefed as funding details and professional services contracts are finalized.
