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Council approves $145,000 budget amendment to build Ninja Warrior course at Discovery Park
Summary
Meridian City Council approved a $145,000 fiscal-year 2025 budget amendment to close a funding gap for a donor-driven Ninja Warrior course at Discovery Park. The project will also use $28,000 from a Blue Cross grant and about $185,000 raised by the Plimmer family.
Meridian City Council on Jan. 21 approved a $145,000 budget amendment to complete a community-funded Ninja Warrior course at Discovery Park.
City parks staff and the Plimmer family presented the project to council, saying the family and community donors have raised about $185,000 toward the equipment and that the Blue Cross of Idaho Foundation awarded a $28,000 grant that the city will apply to the work. Parks staff requested the $145,000 amendment to bridge the remaining gap between those funds and the total project cost.
The project would place Ninja Warrior equipment and artificial turf in Discovery Park’s recently completed teen area, near existing playgrounds and sports facilities. Parks staff said the equipment is low maintenance and durable and that several contractor groups have expressed interest in donating labor or in-kind services; staff said those donations are not guaranteed and the amendment will ensure the project can proceed if volunteer work does not materialize.
“Eva’s father is a contractor that could possibly do the excavation, and we have a landscape company that could do some ground repair,” said Mike Barton of the parks department. “It’s our hope we won’t use the entire amount, but if it doesn’t pan out, we have it and can execute the project.”
Council members praised the fundraising and community support. Councilman Cavanagh thanked the Blue Cross Foundation and city staff for quickly mobilizing around the proposal. Council member comments emphasized the course’s appeal to “tweens” and to a wide range of ages.
The council made the amendment by voice vote after a motion to approve the fiscal-year 2025 budget amendment in the amount of $145,000 for the Discovery Park Ninja Warrior Course. The amendment was adopted and staff said they would proceed with scheduling and contracting steps.
The city will combine the grant, donations, potential donated services and the newly approved amendment to pay for the course; staff said construction will move forward once final contracting is complete.
Speakers quoted in this story are members of the Meridian City Council, parks staff and representatives of the Plimmer family who presented the project.
