Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Playground topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Committee backs community-selected Raices playground option despite budget cap
Summary
The committee supported the playground design chosen by Raices Elementary parents and staff; bids included four surfacing options and poured-in-place rubber would exceed the $150,000 cap by about $32,000. The committee will present a memo to the purchasing board and pursue timely procurement to try to finish by June 30 for reimbursement timing.
The Central Falls School Building Committee voted to support the playground option selected by Raices Elementary parents and staff, despite a likely overrun relative to the project's $150,000 cap.
A subcommittee report said the city issued an RFP for the Raices playground and received multiple bids (reported as six). The principal at Raices met with parents, students and staff and the package selected bundles equipment and installation as a single-price bid. Alternatives submitted included engineered wood fiber (with and without matting), artificial turf, and poured-in-place rubber. The poured-in-place option was described as higher-quality and more aesthetically similar to nearby installations such as Jenks Park but also more expensive.
A committee member explained the poured-in-place option would exceed the committee's $150,000 project cap by roughly $32,000, producing an estimated total near $182,000. The member said the city has signaled willingness to front funds and reauthorize the revolving fund to help close the budget gap, and that the next procurement step is a recommendation to the purchasing board.
The committee member who made the motion asked staff to draft a memo summarizing the discussion and submit it to the purchasing board; staff said the purchasing process typically takes 48 hours, and a purchasing-board response was expected later that week or early the following week. The committee recorded a voice vote in favor of supporting the community-selected option and directed staff to proceed to the purchasing board on an expedited timeline to pursue substantial completion by June 30 so the city can meet reimbursement timelines.
What happens next: staff will draft the memo to the purchasing board, present bid materials, and return with procurement outcomes and any revised cost figures.
