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Seaside council selects Spec Play design for Lincoln Cunningham Park's 2–5 playground
Summary
After reviewing five proposals and public input, the City Council selected the Spec Play option for the 2–5 year-old playground at Lincoln Cunningham Park and directed staff to negotiate pricing within the available budget; council requested contingency planning to avoid removing core play pieces during procurement.
The Seaside City Council voted March 5 to advance the Spec Play proposal as the recommended design for the 2–5 year-old playground area at Lincoln Cunningham Park after a staff presentation and public comment.
Andreas Baer, assistant public works director, presented five cooperative-procurement proposals with price ranges that spanned roughly $140,000 to $181,000. Baer described each option’s themes, ground-level accessibility, and expected delivery schedule: orders placed in April could be delivered and installed by late summer, with manufacturing lead times around nine to 12 weeks.
Council members raised two primary concerns: staying within an available budget ceiling of about $170,000 (to preserve funds for repairs at Stewart Park) and ensuring inclusive, ground-level play for children with limited mobility. Baer confirmed proposals do not include a 10% contingency and that individual items could be negotiated or removed if costs increase; he also said staff could return to council if extra funding were required.
Members of the public — including neighbors and Lincoln Cunningham Park stewards — urged accessible surfacing (engineered wood chips were proposed), compatibility with the adjacent 5–12 play area, and careful vendor selection given some suppliers manufacture overseas. One neighbor urged caution on tall towers for 2–5 year-olds and recommended ground-level activities for safety and accessibility.
Council discussion prioritized inclusive play and cost control. Several members named Spec Play as a top choice for its inventive structures and compatibility with the 5–12 equipment; Miracle Play was mentioned as an acceptable lower-cost alternative. After a motion and second, council voted to move forward with Spec Play as the number-one recommendation and directed staff to negotiate pricing and return with a contract on March 19 if needed.
What’s next: Staff will negotiate final pricing and return with contract documents. Council asked staff to seek contingencies that avoid removing key play elements after ordering, and to return to council if additional funds are required to preserve chosen components.
Vote: Motion to advance Spec Play carried unanimously on voice vote as recorded in the meeting minutes.
