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Dane County moves forward with Badger Prairie playground and accessibility overhaul
Summary
Dane County Parks is proceeding with construction to replace the Badger Prairie playground, add ADA-compliant parking and restroom upgrades, and install stormwater treatment and prairie plantings.
Dane County Parks staff presented plans to replace the aging Badger Prairie playground and to rework circulation, accessibility and stormwater treatment at the site. Commissioners moved and seconded a resolution to award the construction contract for the Badger Prairie Playground improvement project.
The project replaces a playground that staff said is roughly 34 years old and adds accessibility upgrades intended to serve a broad range of users. The design team incorporated an Ice Age Trail theme for surfacing and interpretive elements and added connectivity between the parking, restroom and shelter. Staff said the project will include:
- Replacement of playground equipment and inclusive surfacing with multiple play access levels. - Upgrades to the restroom, including adjustable adult changing stations and automated door hardware to improve accessibility. - Improved ADA-compliant parking stalls: staff said two stalls will serve the shelter and two stalls will be added near the restroom, and ADA stalls in the main lot will be upgraded. - Rebuilt stairs and concrete connections to improve circulation between parking, restroom and playground. - Stormwater treatment features (basins) planted with prairie mixes; planting will be contracted separately and include a multi-year maintenance period to establish vegetation.
Staff said playground equipment has been ordered; much of the equipment will be sourced from U.S. suppliers (Minnesota) and a small subset of pieces are from Kompan (Czech Republic). The construction contract winner was described in discussion as Joe Daniels (contractor), and staff said they hope construction can begin in July pending contract execution with a soft opening targeted for this fall. Staff estimated an on-site construction window of about three months for the primary contractor, with in-house crews doing restroom upgrades and a separate planting contract for basin plantings and three-years of establishment maintenance.
Commission discussion addressed public input and project funding. Staff said the playground replacement and related improvements are recommendations in the 2009 County Park Master Plan and that the county used a previously budgeted $50,000 seed amount and the accessibility capital fund to cover the bulk of the work. Planting contract costs will be covered from other funds. The shelter was closed to reservations starting mid-July to avoid conflicts with construction; staff noted the site is heavily used by trail users, families and community events.
A motion to approve the construction contract was moved and seconded and recorded as part of the committee’s business in the transcript excerpt; a roll-call vote tally was not included in the provided excerpt.
