Roseburg Parks Commission recommends council approve Brown Park playground purchase

On a February 2025 meeting, the Roseburg Parks and Recreation Commission voted 4-1 to recommend that Roseburg City Council authorize the purchase of play equipment and playground surfacing for the Brown Park expansion.

The recommendation follows staff review of manufacturer options and a grant award from the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department. Staff told the commission it had selected equipment manufactured by Landscape Structures and surfacing by ForeverLawn, to be purchased through Ross Recreation using a National Purchasing Partners (NPP) cooperative contract. Staff presented a total purchase amount of $632,391.49 and said the contract satisfies Oregon's formal competitive bid requirements because it is an NPP cooperative procurement established through a public RFP process led by the League of Oregon Cities.

The commission heard that the Brown Park expansion has multiple funding sources including a prior $150,000 donation and a local-government grant from the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department. Staff said approximately $1.1 million in total funding has been identified for the overall project and that part of the local match will come from the sidewalk fund in the 2025–26 budget cycle. Staff recommended immediate authorization to purchase equipment to avoid price increases and to complete the project before winter 2025.

During discussion, commissioners asked about surfacing durability and installation details. Staff said the project would use an artificial-turf product (referred to as “AstroTurf” in the presentation) with underlying foam padding sized by fall-hazard — some areas would use 3-inch foam pads, other areas 2-inch pads, depending on equipment heights. Staff also said a small parking lot of three spaces with ADA access will be added at the south end of the park and that approximately 14 on-street spaces currently front the site.

One commissioner opposed the recommendation, saying the investment was redundant because a similar park exists nearby and raising concerns about use, traffic analysis and stormwater permits. The commissioner said, “I just don't. I think it's redundant...You're gonna disturb more than an acre of land. You need to have stormwater permits and everything in place,” and requested additional permitting and analysis before recommending the purchase.

The motion to recommend City Council approve the purchase passed on a 4-1 vote. Staff said the commission's recommendation will be presented to City Council on Feb. 24 (staff provided that date during the meeting). Staff also noted a notice-to-proceed for the project had been issued on Nov. 5, 2024, and that the city purchased an adjacent lot at 710 West Francis Street to accommodate the expansion.

The commission was shown conceptual drawings of the playground layout, accessibility ramps using the existing slope, picnic areas on the remaining original lot, and room left for future phases such as a half-court basketball area. Staff said there is no restroom planned at this time; drinking fountains are listed as accessory items. Staff also reported they have previously used the selected vendor's products at other Roseburg parks and described favorable long-term performance.

The commission's formal recommendation and the underlying quotes and funding breakdowns will be forwarded to City Council for final authorization.