GSD facilities committee holds playground plan after questions on ADA, fencing and cost

The Juneau City and Borough Assembly GSD Facilities Committee discussed options for a new playground at the Zontakahini campus and decided to keep the project in committee for further work after members and school representatives raised concerns about accessibility, fencing and whether lower-cost designs would meet school needs.

Committee members reviewed design options that ranged from $575,000 to $1.8 million in total project cost and a staff method for converting total project cost to construction cost using a 1.4 multiplier. Miss Wren, the city architect, told the committee that “all options include an ADA compliant sidewalk” and that the consultant and public input favored a concrete slab with play surfacing so the surface would be fully accessible and easier to maintain than alternatives such as pea gravel.

The discussion centered on three recurring issues: whether reduced-cost options would meet ADA and school supervision needs; the absence of perimeter fencing in several lower-cost designs; and the trade-offs of phasing equipment versus surfacing. School board and site representatives said they wanted a design that reflected school operational realities — multiple supervised recesses and the need for clear sight lines — and urged inclusion of fencing because of wildlife (bears) and student safety. “It is important to have that playground be fenced so that it’s safe,” School Board liaison Miss Sorensen said, citing past bear encounters near other school sites.

Staff and the consultant presented a matrix of options and a district playground inventory intended to show how finished surfacing and equipment would compare across elementary sites. Staff noted the original $75,000 CIP allocation for design has been exhausted and that construction funding was not yet identified. Options presented would allow differing amounts of equipment: in the $880,000 total project cost option staff said there would be room for one piece of K–5 equipment, while $1.2 million and $1.5 million options could include equipment for both pre-K and K–5 groups.

Committee members debated next steps. Miss Atkinson moved to forward the $880,000 total project cost option to the full assembly by unanimous consent, but that motion did not advance after objections and further discussion. The committee chair then asked whether anyone objected to keeping the item in committee so staff and school representatives could work through details; with no objection recorded the committee left the playground item in committee for further work and follow-up with the school district.

Next steps: staff and school district representatives said they would continue coordination on design details, including ADA surfacing, fencing and phased implementation options, and return with clearer recommendations for committees and the full assembly.