Commission to accept Hamilton County donation for White Oak Park climbing feature

The Red Bank City Commission reviewed a proposed donation of playground equipment from Hamilton County Parks and Recreation to be installed at White Oak Park.

City staff described the item as a climbing feature valued in the meeting record as “1,801,876 and 56¢,” paid for and procured by Hamilton County and intended for installation at White Oak Park. Director Matt Folz of the Hamilton County Department of Parks and Recreation was thanked by city staff for coordinating the gift.

The donation would include the climbing system and engineered wood fiber surfacing “for now,” with staff noting the city’s longer-term plan to install pour-in-place surfacing across playgrounds. “This new climbing system will have engineered wood fiber for now,” a staff presenter said, adding that Parks and Recreation will handle procurement and installation and that the city’s role is to accept the donation.

Staff advised that the city attorney and the city manager’s office will prepare the contracting documents and that the manager or his designee may sign to accept the donation once paperwork is complete. Commissioners praised the parks and recreation and community development teams for being able to act quickly on the opportunity, and noted the donation aligns with the commission’s recent adoption of a parks and recreation master plan.

The item was presented under resolution number 25-1763; no formal roll-call vote was recorded in the work session transcript. Staff said they will prepare the acceptance and contracting forms for signature so the county can proceed with procurement and installation.

The commission did not take a formal vote during the work session; staff said the manager or designee will sign the acceptance paperwork once prepared.