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City picks hybrid design for Lie Decker playground; installation bid under $300,000
Summary
Acting parks manager Eric Walnar said the community selected a hybrid (Option B) design for the Lie Decker Park playground after a survey of about 650 responses; removal, delivery and installation were estimated at just under $300,000 with a target reopening around April 2026, weather permitting.
Alameda — Acting Parks Manager Eric Walnar told the Recreation and Park Commission on Nov. 13 that Lie Decker Park’s playground—originally built in 1991 and now beyond typical lifecycle—will be replaced following community input.
Walnar said staff distributed two surveys (about 13,000 notices each) and received roughly 650 responses, a return rate staff described as strong for this type of outreach. Vendors produced three final designs and the community preferred Option B, a hybrid modern/traditional configuration with a nautical island motif. "The community voted and they selected option B," Walnar said. He told commissioners the project procurement came in "just under 300,000" for removal, surfacing (a combination of poured‑in‑place rubber and areas of wood fiber) and installation, and that typical lead time is roughly 12 weeks for delivery plus about one month for demolition and installation.
Walnar said the plan anticipates a spring 2026 reopening—"somewhere potentially around April"—but timing depends on weather and shipment schedules. Commissioners asked about outreach methods and whether an in‑person design meeting for kids should be added; Walnar said future projects will likely use a hybrid approach (online and in‑person) because the online survey for Lie Decker produced more responses than past outreach efforts.
Why it matters: Lie Decker serves local families and the replacement addresses safety, accessibility and play value for 5–12 year olds. The surfacing mix includes rubberized accessible transition areas and wood fiber toward the perimeter to balance cost and accessibility.
Next steps: Staff expects to place an order, track delivery timing and schedule demolition and installation; project updates will return to the commission as procurement and scheduling are finalized.
