Raleigh outlines how the $275 million parks bond projects and playground equipment are chosen

Capital Project Superintendent Shasheen Baker said the City of Raleigh uses planning documents, condition data and sustained community engagement to decide which projects the 2022 $275 million parks and greenways bond will fund.

"We approach that from multiple angles," Baker said, describing a three-part process that begins with citywide guiding documents — the city council strategic initiatives, the citywide comprehensive plan and the citywide parks and greenway system plan — and moves through data-driven assessments and community input.

Baker said staff compile detailed condition assessments and layers of data on social-equity priorities and park access needs to inform a draft project list. The parks board then worked with staff using a prioritization matrix and hosted workshops and hearings; that final draft was presented to city council before the bond went on the November 2022 ballot.

Following passage, Baker said, the city implements projects from that finalized list one at a time. "Once the bond was passed ... we now start working out those projects one at a time," she said.

Playground projects receive particular attention, Baker said, and the city draws on three inputs when selecting equipment and design: operations and maintenance staff who observe how playgrounds are used and what maintenance issues to avoid; direct engagement with neighbors, parents and children to shape concepts and color choices; and collaboration with manufacturers, consultants and industry best practices to introduce new elements and accessible design.

For larger inclusive-playground efforts, Baker said the city has convened teams that include manufacturers, landscape architects, civil engineers, university specialists in early childhood development and local pediatricians and physical therapists to build universal-design playgrounds.

Baker credited the Raleigh community for the system’s scale and quality: "Without the community support, we would not have been where we are today, having an award-winning parks and greenway system, with over 200 parks and over 120 miles of greenway," she said.

Residents who want updates can search project pages and sign up for newsletters at the city website (raleighnc.gov), where most capital improvement projects include a project manager’s contact information and meeting notices. The podcast host invited listeners to submit questions through the city website and closed the episode with a reminder that the series is produced by the City of Raleigh.