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Council approves $136,080 playground purchase for Haddon Park; residents press for sidewalks and accessible features
Summary
Council authorized a public works agreement to buy and install an accessible playground at Haddon Park using $132,000 in CDBG funds plus city funds to cover the remainder; speakers urged improved sidewalks to the park and attention to restroom lighting and ADA surface.
The Bremerton City Council unanimously approved a public works agreement on Jan. 15 to purchase and install new accessible playground equipment at Haddon Park for $136,080.45, and authorized the mayor to execute the contract with Landscape Structures, Inc.
Tim Barker, Parks and Recreation director, told council the project was in the city's six-year capital plan and the 2020 Parks, Recreation and Open Space (PROS) plan, and that the current purchase replaces playground equipment originally obtained from the U.S. Navy in 1998. Barker said the city received a $132,000 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) in 2021 to replace the outdated equipment and will use local funds for the $4,080 shortfall.
Barker described the selected design as the public's top choice after an August 2024 Parks and Recreation Commission review and a two-week in-person comment period at the community center. Final construction will use a community-build process; the installer, Play Creation (the local contractor for Landscape Structures), will set posts and volunteers will help assemble the structure.
Council and public comment focused heavily on pedestrian access. Several speakers who live near the park urged the city to complete sidewalks on Lafayette and Fifteenth streets so children can reach the park safely; staff said sidewalks along Lafayette and Fifteenth are under construction as part of the project and will be completed by summer, with additional city crews finishing remaining frontage work in a two-year phased approach.
Other public comments requested bike racks, attention to restroom lighting, and confirmation that the playground surfacing (engineered wood fiber) meets ADA accessibility standards. Barker said the engineered wood fiber is specified to an ADA-approved standard and that bike racks would be added if not already included in the lot plan. Naomi Levine asked staff to ensure fixtures provide adequate light over both stalls and sink areas in the new restroom.
The motion to approve the Landscape Structures purchase and installation passed unanimously; the vote was recorded with council members present and voting in favor. Council President Junger thanked Parks staff and volunteers and noted the project will include a restroom, shelter and accessible pathways as part of the broader Haddon Park renovation.
