The Parks and Recreation Committee voted unanimously to recommend City Council approval of a contract with Aspire to Play LLC for construction of the playground at the Bietigheim‑Bissingen Park project, PR-1875, in the amount of $271,870.

City staff described a multi-step selection process that included a request for qualifications, manufacturer submissions, an open house at Wilshire by the Lake where residents cast dots to indicate preferences, and an accessibility assessment. Staff said 48 people attended the open house and cast a total of 144 votes; the winning design received 62 votes.

"This playground not only does it meet [accessibility requirements], but it exceeds it," a staff presenter said, outlining elevated events, transfer stations, ramped access and a high number of ground-level accessible play components in the selected design. Staff highlighted interactive panels, movement slides and custom elements referencing the city’s sister-city relationship with Bietigheim‑Bissingen, including bilingual and heritage panels.

Councilmembers asked about swings and age ranges. Staff said the selected playground does not include swings because the available site fall zone would have consumed a disproportionate share of the overall play area; staff confirmed the equipment is designed primarily for ages 2–12. The playground is intended to be constructed with green-energy interactive features and an elevated boardwalk edge that protects an adjoining streamway corridor.

A motion to recommend City Council approval of the contract for PR-1875 to Aspire to Play LLC in the amount of $271,870 was made by Councilmember Muñoz and seconded by Councilmember Mosher; the committee recorded the vote as unanimous and the motion passed.

Why it matters: The playground is part of a broader park construction effort tied to Overland Park’s sister‑city relationship; the chosen design emphasizes universal access, cultural elements and on-site learning panels that staff will develop with Bietigheim‑Bissingen representatives. Staff estimated a summer 2025 completion window and said they plan a dedication when sister-city delegates visit in the fall.