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Committee advances Albemarle Park playground contracts, $80,295 in CDBG funds
Summary
The committee moved to place on May 5 resolutions to contract with a playground installer partner and to buy equipment from General Recreation for Albemarle Park, a project staff said will use CDBG funds and add inclusive surfacing and age-appropriate play structures.
York City’s council committee voted to advance resolutions to the May 5 legislative agenda that would hire an installation partner and purchase playground equipment for Albemarle Park, officials said.
Vice President Buckingham introduced the item and Tom Landis, representing public works/recreation, described a two-part project. The plan calls for an installation partner (referred to in committee discussion as a Playworks vendor) to assist city recreation staff and volunteers with grading and installation, and a separate contract with General Recreation to supply play equipment. Landis said the design will include two age-appropriate play structures (one for ages 2–4 and one for ages 5–15), accessible play panels at ground level, a four-bay belt swing and toddler swings, a space-net climber, and an all-rubber safety surface similar to other recent park work.
Landis said parts for the existing 1996 PlayWorld structure are no longer available and that a rebuild will create more usable, accessible play space connected to an existing pavilion. The equipment purchase was stated as $80,295 and, according to staff, will be paid from Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds; council confirmed the project was included in the 2026 financial plan.
Council members asked about funding sources and whether ARPA funds could be reallocated; staff said CDBG is the current funding source and that ARPA allocations are being considered separately for other park projects. A council member also asked whether playground components will accommodate children with disabilities; Landis said the designs include ground-level play panels and other accessible elements to support wheelchairs and strollers.
Public comment included expressions of support and questions about funding. The committee moved both resolutions to the May 5 agenda by voice vote; the transcript records affirmative responses but does not provide a recorded roll-call tally.
If approved at the legislative meeting, the city said it hopes to schedule community build activities and complete the installation around August, consistent with typical playground-build timing.
This project combines planning, accessible design and CDBG-funded procurement for neighborhood recreation improvements.
