Beavercreek staff expect Spring House Park Phase 1 design this month; playground budgeted around $400,000

City parks staff told the Beavercreek Parks, Recreation and Culture Division Park Board on May 13 that consultant work on Spring House Park Phase 1 is nearing completion and that the playground portion is being budgeted at roughly $400,000.

At a meeting where staff reviewed public feedback from an open house and an online survey, Zach, a parks staff member, said the consultant Fran Stetter Carroll is compiling results and that staff and other city departments have reviewed the plan for maintenance and feasibility. "On the open ended questions of the 500 and some responses, I think we had close to 200 comments on each of those fields," Zach said.

Why it matters: Spring House Park Phase 1 is tied to a larger state grant that city staff said carries deadlines and budget constraints. Zach told the board the project is part of a $1,000,000 state grant with no local match and that those grant funds must be spent by June 30, 2026, creating a firm timeline for design and construction decisions.

Most important facts first: staff said they expect to finalize design work by the end of June, prepare construction documents and bid the parking lot and entrance drive this year, and then work with playground vendors to install the playground in early 2026. "We will then work with the playground vendors to bid that out and build the playground and get that installed in early 20 26," Zach said. He added the playground budget is being "earmarked right around the $400,000 mark."

Supporting details: staff reported 50 attendees at the Spring House Park open house and 539 online survey responses; park staff characterized the public responses as strongly preferring particular playground styles and colors. The parking-lot repaving and entrance-drive work will establish how much remains for the playground, staff said. A separate pedestrian-path project up Grange Hall toward Lafino Park will intersect phase 1; staff told the board the pedestrian-path consultant has a subconsultant assigned so the path aligns with the park master plan.

Discussion vs. decisions: the board received the design and engagement updates as information; no formal board vote on design or construction contracts was recorded. Staff presented timelines and next steps and said they will return with construction documents and bidding schedules.

Background: Spring House Park Phase 1 is funded from the state grant noted by staff; staff said there is no local match required. Staff emphasized the connection benefits the project will provide by linking neighborhoods, schools and the Creekside Trail.

What’s next: staff said they expect finalized design documents by the end of June and plan to advertise bids for the parking lot and entrance drive before year-end; playground procurement and installation would follow in early 2026, subject to the remaining budget and the grant-spend deadline on June 30, 2026.