Westfield board approves roughly $807,900 Simon Moon playground, delegates change-order authority to director

The Westfield Parks and Recreation Board on Feb. 5 authorized the parks department to accept a proposal from Recreation Insights LLC to replace the playground at Simon Moon as part of the park's Phase 2 work and delegated limited change-order authority to the parks director to keep the project on schedule.

The proposal presented at the meeting showed a contract value listed in the staff packet as $807,909.16 and was described aloud in the meeting record during the motion as $807,916.20; the board approved the purchase after a roll-call vote. Parks and Recreation Director Chris (last name not provided) told the board the playground is a custom, universal-design installation with a manufacturing lead time of about 32 weeks and that the department hopes to have the new playground open by spring 2026.

The vote followed a public-comment presentation by a representative of the Westfield Pickleball Association. Donna Van Hughes introduced her newly formed group and said the association's mission is “to promote the sport of pickleball within the greater Westfield community as a healthy recreational activity by providing ... accessible, inclusive, public, and year round playing opportunities for all ages and skill levels.” Van Hughes asked about the status of courts at Quaker Park, potential temporary subsidized play locations during renovations, Osborne Park as a possible site, and whether Grand Park community use might include pickleball.

Director Chris reviewed the playground design and why staff recommended approval. He said the new installation would replace equipment installed in 2012 (staff noted a typical playground lifespan of about 10 years) and described features intended to support inclusive play: a 2–5 age area with interactive panels, multi-age and 2–12 play sections, belt and basket swings (the basket swing rated to 600 pounds), an ADA-accessible carousel that can accept a wheelchair, a large climbing net and slide, and a KOMPAN sculpture — described as a Robinia sandhill crane with a wing peak about 9½ feet tall. Chris said the project will use turf surfacing rather than playground mulch and that cooperative purchasing discounts in the packet produced an estimated material and installation savings of about $23,000 compared with list pricing.

After discussion, the board took two related formal actions: (1) to accept the Recreation Insights proposal and (2) to delegate to the parks director the authority to approve change orders up to his purchasing authority in accordance with applicable Indiana law, with the requirement that any such change orders be reported back to the park board at a subsequent meeting. Both motions passed on roll-call votes with four yes votes and one absence (see 'Votes at a glance' below).

The board also handled routine business: it approved the meeting agenda and the minutes of the Dec. 4, 2024 meeting by roll call; re-elected the board president (Caitlin, President, Westfield Parks and Recreation Board) and elected Curtis Baumgartner as vice president; and adjourned. The director provided an update noting that Simon Moon Phase 1 has reached substantial completion, that the park's sliding hill was being held closed until plantings and turf establish, and that a Simon Moon Phase 2 master-plan public input meeting is scheduled for Feb. 20 at 7 p.m., with a target to present the final master plan to the parks board in March.

Votes at a glance

- Motion: Approve this evening's agenda as prepared. Outcome: Approved by roll call (Yes: Julia Grimmer; Yes: Mike Hall; Yes: Curtis Baumgartner; Yes: Leanne Sintz). Tally: Yes 4, No 0, Abstain 0, Absent 1. (Mover/second not specified in record.)

- Motion: Approve minutes of the Dec. 4, 2024 regular meeting. Outcome: Approved by roll call (Yes: Julia Grimmer; Yes: Mike Hall; Yes: Curtis Baumgartner; Yes: Leanne Sintz). Tally: Yes 4, No 0, Abstain 0, Absent 1. (Mover/second not specified in record.)

- Motion: Authorize the department to accept the Recreation Insights LLC proposal for the Simon Moon Phase 2 playground. Motion text in packet: total contract value $807,909.16; motion in meeting record referenced $807,916.20. Outcome: Approved by roll call (Yes: Julia Grimmer; Yes: Mike Hall; Yes: Curtis Baumgartner; Yes: Leanne Sintz). Tally: Yes 4, No 0, Abstain 0, Absent 1. (Mover/second not specified in record.)

- Motion: Delegate to the parks and recreation director authority to approve change orders not to exceed his purchasing authority, with a report to the park board at a subsequent meeting. Outcome: Approved by roll call (Yes: Julia Grimmer; Yes: Mike Hall; Yes: Curtis Baumgartner; Yes: Leanne Sintz). Tally: Yes 4, No 0, Abstain 0, Absent 1. (Mover/second not specified in record.)

- Motion: Nominate and elect board president (Caitlin). Outcome: Approved by roll call (Yes: Julia Grimmer; Yes: Mike Hall; Yes: Curtis Baumgartner; Yes: Leanne Sintz). Tally: Yes 4, No 0, Abstain 0, Absent 1.

- Motion: Nominate and elect vice president (Curtis Baumgartner). Outcome: Approved by roll call (Yes: Julia Grimmer; Yes: Mike Hall; Yes: Curtis Baumgartner; Yes: Leanne Sintz). Tally: Yes 4, No 0, Abstain 0, Absent 1.

- Motion: Adjourn. Outcome: Approved by roll call (Yes: Julia Grimmer; Yes: Mike Hall; Yes: Curtis Baumgartner; Yes: Leanne Sintz). Tally: Yes 4, No 0, Abstain 0, Absent 1.

Context and next steps

The approved contract is for a custom playground with a roughly 32-week manufacturing lead time; staff said cooperative-purchase discounts reduce cost compared with list pricing and that the department intends to secure the order now to meet the manufacturing schedule. The board instructed staff to report any director-approved change orders at later meetings. The department also announced a Feb. 20 public input meeting on the parks master plan and hopes to present the final master plan for board adoption in March. The Westfield Pickleball Association representative was offered a follow-up meeting with parks staff to discuss Quaker Park, Osborne Park, Grand Park community use, and temporary play options while renovations occur.

Quote attribution

Parks and Recreation Director Chris: “This is a very unique custom playground and it will have a lead time of about 32 weeks, in order to manufacture the playground.”

Donna Van Hughes, Westfield Pickleball Association: “Our mission ... is to promote the sport of pickleball within the greater Westfield community as a healthy recreational activity by providing ... accessible, inclusive, public, and year round playing opportunities for all ages and skill levels.”