City staff outlines East Side playground design and mid-November delivery plan

Jerome, a city parks staff member, told the City of Blaine Park Advisory Board that neighborhood feedback and a recent National Park and Recreation Association conference helped settle on a color scheme for the East Side playground and a few design adjustments. He said the board shifted the post color to orange and mixed orange and blue on climbing elements to "make it pop" for younger users.

"We did go out and went to 4 different day cares ... After getting feedback from them and also from the residents, off of social media, we did come out with a color," Jerome said, describing outreach he conducted in the neighborhood.

Jerome said the concrete curbing and base have been installed and compacted; the equipment vendor has scheduled on-site delivery for about mid-November if weather permits. He noted installers will assemble the equipment at the park and that, if early frost prevents installation, the city can store the equipment until spring and install it then.

Board members asked logistical questions about installation and storage. Jerome said the only major installation risk would be severe ground frost; if that occurs the city would store the equipment temporarily and install it later. He also addressed concerns about accessibility on certain pieces, saying the vendor demonstrated lower rails and transfer options at the conference for younger children.

The board did not take a formal vote on the playground design at the meeting; Jerome said staff had emailed pictures and selection materials to members and would continue coordination with residents and the installer as delivery approaches.