Hudson council narrows inclusive playground sites; Park Board and HIP favor Barlow Farm Park

Councilors on May 13 heard a detailed site analysis and cost estimates for three candidate locations for a proposed inclusive playground, and directed staff and the Park Board to return with a recommendation within weeks.

Tom Sheridan, the city engineer who presented conceptual designs and cost estimates, said Barlow Farm Park ‘‘came in around $1,250,000’’ for the inclusive playground project, including contingencies and parking work, while Hudson Springs was estimated at roughly $1,500,000 because of restroom and stormwater needs and Middleton Road Park came in substantially higher at about $2,800,000. Park Board members told council they had voted 3–2 in favor of Barlow Farm Park.

Megan of the Hudson Inclusive Playground (HIP) group reiterated the group’s preference for Barlow, citing safety concerns at Hudson Springs (proximity to a lake and turnpike noise) and the advantages of colocating the playground with existing community amenities. ‘‘I still like Barlow,’’ Megan said, adding that families and players using nearby fields would benefit from colocated amenities.

Council members pressed staff on timing and parking. Sheridan noted the city has budgeted parking additions at Barlow this year (24 spaces) and that a separate grant application proposes another $400,000 for additional parking; with other planned additions staff estimated total park parking could reach roughly 500 spaces when all projects are complete. Sheridan said the city has until a June deadline to finalize design steps tied to outside funding and that, in his view, construction could be completed by 06/25/2026 if the process moves promptly.

Several councilors urged caution about changing course late in the process. One councilor noted Oak Grove had not been widely discussed earlier and recommended more outreach to adjacent neighborhoods if Oak Grove remains under consideration. Others asked for mitigation ideas—screening, mounding or moving seasonal decorations at a nearby haunted-house attraction—if Oak Grove is selected.

Council directed staff to have Park Board consider Barlow and Oak Grove at a special meeting next Monday and to notify adjacent neighborhoods (Weston Hills and nearby homeowners). The item will return to a workshop for further action; council asked staff to bring traffic/parking analyses and other clarifying information as part of that follow-up.

What happens next: Park Board will meet, staff will reach out to adjacent HOAs and residents, and council expects a follow-up discussion on or before May 27 with the aim of making a final site decision soon so design, permitting and bidding can proceed.