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Snoqualmie staff outline playground replacement priorities and a concept plan for Railroad Park
Summary
Staff described a plan to prioritize playground replacements using existing capital funds and seek consultant help to redesign Railroad Park as a more active downtown community space; commissioners were asked to review design concepts and provide input.
City staff told the Parks and Events Commission March 11 that a multi-year program to replace aging playground equipment will move forward this year using the parks replacement budget, and that commissioners will be invited to review concept designs before contracts are awarded.
Capital Program Manager Dylan Gamble said the parks replacement program divides funds among play equipment, surfacing and facility items (benches, trash cans, signage). He said the work will use a streamlined contracting approach — asking vendors for concept packages that meet site constraints — rather than a full public bid in order to accelerate the timeline. "I'm gonna ask these companies, give me a bunch of ideas...we'll narrow it down, get to some good ones, and then I will work on getting the money set aside," Gamble said.
Staff identified several neighborhood playgrounds in higher-priority condition (wooden structures, failing components) and said some closely located parks may be consolidated: "pick one and improve it, pick one and lose one," Gamble said, describing the pros plan recommendation for clusters of very close neighborhood playgrounds.
Commissioners were also briefed on an initiative to activate Railroad Park and its surroundings. Staff said increased downtown activity — including a model railroad museum expected near the bowling alley and construction of the river-trail segments — creates an opportunity to rethink Railroad Park as a downtown community park for events, markets and quieter civic uses. Jeff Hamlin and Gamble said they plan to hire a landscape architecture firm to develop concepts, then run focused community outreach and bring options to the commission.
Staff emphasized the need to manage expectations: replacement playground work has clear priorities tied to safety and failing equipment, while larger downtown projects (Railroad Park, river-trail connections and bridges) will require more time, funding and broader stakeholder engagement.
Next steps: staff will solicit playground concept options from vendors and present design choices to the commission for recommendation before contracting; the Railroad Park concept phase will seek consultant support and public outreach later this year.
