Dayton City park commission prioritizes restrooms and parking over splash pad in LC Stevens Phase 3

At a Feb. 4 meeting, the Dayton City Park Commission debated Phase 3 of the LC Stevens Park master plan and urged staff to prioritize restrooms, parking and an amphitheater cover over installing a splash pad until permitting and detailed pricing are resolved.

Commission members and staff said the project currently sits at a concept stage with high-level pricing and a roughly $1.5 million planning figure cited; commissioners described the estimates as imprecise and asked staff to return with contractor bids and clarified budget numbers. "We did work with MSA to come up with some alternatives and some alternative costs," a staff member said, noting a 15% contingency on the current estimates.

Why it matters: The commission framed the decision as one of long-term durability and cost efficiency. Several commissioners argued that fundamental infrastructure — adequate parking and proper restroom facilities with reliable water and sewer solutions — should come first so the park…