Board reviews inclusive playground plans for Hayes and Horseman; bids and mixed surfacing explained

The Lakewood City Schools Board reviewed playground improvement plans for Hayes Elementary and the Horseman site on Tuesday, with the district’s operations director describing a prioritization of accessibility and a surfacing strategy to balance inclusion and cost.

Director of Operations Mr. Dano showed renderings for Hayes that include six new play elements, poured-in‑place rubber surfacing to reach new elements and portions of two existing play structures, an inclusive merry-go-round and an arch swing, and a bench designed to be usable by students with mobility devices. Board members were told the recommended vendor for Hayes would be before the board for a final vote that evening.

On the Horseman site, Dano said all existing equipment would be removed, two parking spaces and part of a sidewalk would be sacrificed to create a larger footprint, and the design will include a tall climbing structure, arch swings and a whirl merry-go-round. Bids for Horseman were due a week from the meeting date and the district plans a mix of poured-in-place rubber and engineered wood fiber to keep costs down while still providing inclusive elements.

Board members asked practical questions — including whether the asphalt play area used for ball play would remain and how age-labeling on existing Lincoln playground structures was being corrected — and Mr. Dano clarified that certain labels had been removed and the vendor will provide corrected signage. He said the surfacing mix was chosen so the district could complete more than one playground this summer rather than spending the budget on rubber surfacing for a single site.

The board did not vote on Horseman at the meeting; a final vote on the recommended Hayes vendor was announced as occurring that evening as part of the consent and resolutions portion of the agenda.