Parks proposes $161,000 Fairgrounds playground with poured rubber surface; council questions installation warranty cost

Parks Director Justin Combs presented a proposed replacement of the Fairgrounds Park playground on Oct. 7, asking the council to consider a GameTime design with poured‑in‑place rubber safety surfacing and new swings.

Combs said the existing playground is about 30 years old, showing multiple cracked molded plastic pieces and corrosion in structural decks. He said three vendors were asked to price replacement options; GameTime (through Cunningham Recreation) offered a design and pricing that included equipment ($71,000), supervised installation ($27,000), poured‑in‑place surface for both play areas ($83,000), freight ($5,000) and a $25,000 manufacturer discount, bringing the presented total to $161,000. Combs emphasized the value of poured‑in‑place surfacing for safety and year‑round usability.

Multiple council members and attendees questioned the supervised‑installation fee and whether the city could certify or self‑install to lower labor cost while retaining warranty coverage. Jack Neuber, a member of the public, said, “I just keep looking at this price. I just think we could get it down,” and suggested local alternatives; parks staff responded that manufacturer warranties and certified installer requirements limit who can perform installation without voiding warranty.

Combs said equipment must be ordered and received by November to qualify for the manufacturer's discount and that the surface would likely not be usable until spring due to required overnight temperatures for the pour. Staff said the project is in the 2026 budget but that finance staff indicated the $161,000 could be funded from 2025 if council chose to proceed. Council asked staff to seek refinements to the installation pricing and to explore whether one installer would meet warranty requirements.