Pryor Park Board members were briefed on an application for a $300,000 playground grant intended to fund a major upgrade at Bobby Buck Park.

The board was told the grant application centers on an accessible play area on the north side of Bobby Buck, near the pavilion. Staff described a plan that would place a central playground unit plus five separated “fitness/exercise” pieces along the eastern side of the park’s walking trail, accessible swings, an accessible seesaw, a ground-level wheelchair-accessible merry-go-round, and two large accessible swings designed for children with higher support needs.

Board members were given preliminary cost context and procurement constraints. Staff said PlayWorld—a state-contract vendor identified in the meeting—would supply most equipment. A park representative reported the surfacing required for the accessible elements will likely be a pour-in-place rubber surface; staff estimated surfacing at roughly $15,000 (estimate provided by staff, to be finalized by vendor). Staff also said two specialty swings were quoted at about $22,000 and that an earlier equipment subtotal (before adding two sling-style swings) was about $154,000. Those figures are project estimates discussed at the meeting and are not final contract prices.

Staff flagged a practical procurement issue: the city’s purchasing thresholds mean items or packages over certain dollar amounts will trigger formal bidding and other legal publication requirements. To avoid procurement delays if awarded the grant, staff said they are exploring whether an outside entity could serve as a surrogate applicant or purchasing agent (options mentioned included a local nonprofit and regional economic development organizations). The board was told the city remains the applicant in the grant process but is evaluating arrangements that would streamline purchasing if the grant is awarded.

The presenter said PlayWorld provided layout options and is a state-contract vendor, which staff expects will simplify certain purchasing steps if used. The meeting also noted installation would be performed by city maintenance crews (referred to in the meeting as “Frank’s guys”). Staff said equipment lead times have recently shortened: one speaker said the vendor indicated about a four-week delivery window after ordering, reduced from the prior estimate of six to eight weeks.

Staff emphasized accessibility as a project driver and said the most expensive way to shade the main large playground unit (a full canopy over the primary set) would cost roughly $100,000; instead the plan places the accessible elements under a smaller, lower-cost shade structure estimated near $20,000 to better fit the grant parameters. The board discussed community engagement for the application and confirmed staff has completed the required public meetings and sign-in documentation.

Next steps outlined at the meeting: staff will wait for the grant program to release answers to applicant questions (staff said the grant administrator planned to post answers on Nov. 1) and will finalize procurement and surfacing cost quotes if the award is announced. If the grant is awarded, staff said the project need not be completed until the end of next summer and that installation would begin as vendor deliveries and weather allow.

The board did not take a formal vote on the grant application during the meeting; staff sought the board’s input and indicated they would return with procurement details if the grant is awarded.