Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Parks And Recreation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Riverbank council directs ARPA park improvements, prioritizes Castleburg playground
Summary
City staff recommended spending $389,362.22 in ARPA funds on municipal park repairs and a playground renovation at Castleburg Park after a community poll favored a new playground; council provided guidance and asked staff for procurement quotes but did not take a formal vote.
City of Riverbank officials on Oct. 22 directed staff to develop procurement options for $389,362.22 in American Rescue Plan Act funds to improve local parks, with staff and the Parks & Recreation Advisory Committee recommending a major playground renovation at Castleburg Park.
Michael Patton, Riverbank’s director of parks and recreation, told the council the department’s assessment identified playgrounds and site furnishings at several parks — Castleburg Community Center, Jacob Myers and Pioneer — as needing immediate replacement. “Overwhelming, 75% said they wanna see a new playground,” Patton said, citing an Instagram poll of residents that staff used to gauge priorities.
Why it matters: The city must encumber ARPA funds by the end of the calendar year and has two years to expend them; allocating this money will pay for accessibility upgrades, site surfacing and durable benches and trash receptacles, items staff said are required by the city’s park standards.
Patton outlined a range of options: dedicate the full $389,362.22 to a single, comprehensive playground replacement at Castleburg Park or apply a smaller portion (for example, about $250,000–$300,000) and use the remainder for benches, tables and trash cans at other parks. He also noted that new playground surfacing must meet ADA and engineered design standards, which raises costs when shade structures and design work are required.
Public commenters representing Riverbank Youth Baseball Softball Association urged the council to include shade structures for dugouts and longer restroom access at the ballfields. “We really would like to have the shade structure on both fields if possible,” said Eddie Carrillo, who spoke for the association and offered to help with fundraising and contractor contacts.
Council members signaled support for prioritizing playground replacement at Castleburg Park while asking staff to return with two procurement quotes — one for replacing the south field/dugouts only and another for both fields or a full playground package — plus cost estimates for shade structures and installation. Staff said the Parks & Recreation Advisory Committee’s recommendation to focus on Castleburg was unanimous.
No formal motion was taken on item 11.1; Mayor O’Brien said, “There’s no motion, but we gave them good guidance.” Staff will bring quotes and refined cost estimates to a future meeting so the council can finalize how to encumber the ARPA funds before required deadlines.
What’s next: Council directed staff to obtain multiple quotes and return with procurement options and budget scenarios. The city must encumber the ARPA funds by the end of the calendar year and has two years to expend them.
