Morro Bay panel backs replacing two aging playgrounds using $250,000 in ARPA funds

Carlos Mendoza, Morro Bay’s maintenance division manager, told the Recreation and Parks Commission on Nov. 21 that the city has $250,000 allocated from the American Rescue Plan Act to replace playground equipment at parks whose structures have exceeded life expectancy.

Mendoza said inspections and public reports identified City Park, Lilac Kaiser and Cloisters as the sites in most need of work. He described safety and maintenance issues — rusted metal, missing replacement parts and slides that have been removed — and said the $250,000 must be spent within a limited ARPA timeframe, with staff aiming to have work complete by the end of 2025.

Why it matters: playgrounds that lose parts or become unsafe reduce play opportunities for children and can increase maintenance and liability costs. Replacing obsolete, corroded equipment, staff said, will restore usable play space and is time-sensitive because of the federal funding window.

Staff presented vendor renderings and ballpark estimates for multiple theme options. Examples included a modest playground option estimated at about $91,000 and larger themed sets estimated between roughly $125,000 and $147,000; one natural-wood “woody forest” option came back at about $217,000 largely because of shipping costs. Mendoza said cost estimates include removal of old equipment, disposal and installation and assume prevailing wage.

During discussion commissioners debated where new equipment would best serve residents and whether components could be recycled or integrated with existing structures. "If there are portions that...could be saved and save some funds absolutely we could do that," Mendoza said, describing plans to specify salvageable pieces in the RFP. Commissioners also noted coastal corrosion accelerates deterioration at parks closer to the ocean.

Public comment: Rich Rob, speaking for the senior center’s pickleball players, urged more courts and described heavy demand at Del Mar Park, underscoring pressure on park space and competing needs for limited funding.

Outcome: After questions and debate, a commissioner moved that the commission recommend staff pursue a two-park approach: a modest-themed replacement for City Park (the lower-cost option) and a larger, multi-age play structure for Lilac Kaiser. The motion was seconded and approved by voice vote. Mendoza said the final RFP will firm up pricing and that renderings can be interchanged between parks with minor modifications.

Next steps: Staff will prepare an RFP and take the contract to City Council for review; the public will have an opportunity to weigh in during that process. The Commission’s recommendation and the ARPA funding deadline frame a short timeline for procurement and construction.