Petaluma staff prioritize five aging playgrounds for replacement; commissioners focus on shade, materials and funding

Petaluma — City parks staff told the Recreation, Parks and Music Commission on April 15 they recommend prioritizing five playgrounds for near‑term replacement or intervention, and asked the commission for input on design priorities and what technical details staff should include when projects return for funding decisions.

Drew Halter, director of Parks and Recreation, and Jen Santos, superintendent of parks and open space, described the five sites staff recommends focusing on in the next three years: Leghorn's Tower, Weisman Park, McDowell Park, Eagle Park and Kenilworth Park. Many of the structures date from the mid‑1990s or earlier; staff said age, wear and the cost and scarcity of replacement parts make full replacements increasingly necessary.

Leghorn's Tower: Santos said the 21‑year‑old tower features a tall enclosed spiral slide that is dark, difficult for guardians to access and shows extensive graffiti and wear. "It creates a great place for activity that's unwanted to happen," she said, recommending a complete replacement rather than piecemeal repairs.

Weisman Park: Staff identified Weisman as possibly the oldest playground (~32 years) with failing rubberized surfacing and cumulative wear; staff proposed interim power washing and repairs to extend life while seeking replacement funds.

McDowell Park: At roughly 30 years old, McDowell has failing footings and reduced structures; staff noted the park's large footprint creates flexibility for redesign but also poses costly retaining‑wall and infrastructure questions. A commissioner flagged the absence of restrooms and said parents waiting for school pickup need facilities; staff said restroom work takes more time but water‑access issues can be addressed more quickly.

Eagle Park: Staff emphasized surfacing and fall‑protection improvements; interim fixes such as replacing sand with wood fiber were discussed to improve safety until full replacement is funded.

Kenilworth Park: Staff stressed Kenilworth's link to the Fairgrounds master plan, saying the park's rebuild should be coordinated with the larger fairgrounds planning work that will determine traffic, parking and infrastructure timing. Kenilworth was also noted for its proximity to low‑income housing and eligibility for certain disadvantaged‑community grants.

Commissioners repeatedly urged staff to prioritize natural materials and play designs that support climbing, sliding and balancing, and to consider features for older children and adults such as fitness stations. Commissioner Alex asked staff to identify playground vendors who use natural materials; staff said options exist but that longevity and site constraints (salt air, temperature swings) make wood less suitable in some locations.

Halter said staff is looking at a three‑year outlook and expects more funding certainty if Sonoma County Measure M (the Parks for All tax) is reauthorized by voters; however, he said no capital funding for these replacements is set aside yet and staff will prepare cost estimates ahead of the budget process.

Next steps: staff will refine priority criteria, gather cost estimates and present project scopes and funding options to the commission for prioritization and budgeting. The commission suggested focusing initially on the top three projects so limited funds can produce visible improvements and momentum in the community.

(Article is based on presentations and commissioner comments at the April 15 meeting.)