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NextGen pitches $2M inclusive Eastside playground; council recommends LSI vendor amid strong public debate
Summary
A NextGen group proposed a three-phase, $2M-plus destination playground for Eastside Park; proponents emphasized accessibility and downtown economic benefits while residents urged protecting mature trees and exploring alternate sites. Council recommended LSI as phase-1 vendor and set public hearings for site questions.
MORRIS CITY — A local NextGen team presented plans for a 23,000-square-foot inclusive playground at Eastside Park on a three-phase timeline and asked the city to endorse Landscape Structures (LSI) as the preferred vendor for phase 1.
"Our theme, reimagine, renew, and reconnect captures the heart of this project," said a NextGen spokesperson, describing a design that includes a 23,000 sq. ft. playground, a 60-by-100 parking lot and a phased program of bathrooms, a pavilion and band-shell improvements. The group estimated phase 1 would cost about $2,000,000 and said the playground would be "fully accessible" using a pour-in-place surface and ramps so children with mobility aids can use the equipment.
Mark Hendrickson, vice president of operations for Landscape Structures, told the council the company would support the project locally and bring experience building accessible,…
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