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Waukesha parks board approves Minaka Park playground design, asks for added shade and enclosure
Summary
The Parks, Recreation and Forestry Board unanimously approved a Burke playground purchase for Minaka Park on June 16, authorizing $117,719 for equipment within a $235,000 CIP project and directing Lee Recreation to add shade and an enclosed back tower; staff may approve up to $10,000 in revisions.
The Waukesha Parks, Recreation and Forestry Board on June 16 approved a revised design and equipment purchase for the Minaka Park playground, directing staff to add shade over a ramp and increase enclosure on the back side of the 5–12 tower.
Melissa Lipska, Parks and Forestry Operations Manager, presented updated color renderings and an aerial layout for the playground, saying the recommended equipment package is a Burke product procured through the Sourcewell cooperative and that the equipment price is $117,719, “so that is well within our budget.” She described new ADA-enhanced features — including a ‘‘3 60’’ loop slide with a reverse platform that allows children to scoot up a rubber ramp rather than climb steps, transfer platforms and adaptive swings — plus musical instruments, spinners and multiple swing bays.
The purchase is part of a larger Capital Improvements Project (CIP) estimated at $235,000. Lipska said staff typically budgets roughly 40% for equipment and 40% for surfacing; because the pour-in-place surfacing estimates are lower this year the equipment share is currently closer to half the budget but the project retains contingency for incidentals. She also said staff would include a community-build option and noted a supervision component associated with that work.
Several board members pressed for stronger thematic cohesion and more shade after seeing public-input responses. One member said the design lacked a clear theme compared with an earlier preferred option and urged staff to “push Lee a little bit to give us something special, unique.” Lipska agreed she could ask the vendor for revisions and said the board could approve up to an additional $10,000 if refinements were needed to add the shade canopy and an enclosed platform without exceeding the project budget.
A motion to approve the Minaka Park playground design and equipment purchase with the requested shade and enclosure changes was made (Motion by Jennifer Wallner; second by Alderman Camacho) and passed unanimously. Staff said final designs would be sent to Lee Recreation the following day for a quick turnaround and that the pour-in-place surfacing is already out to bid; the surfacing contract is expected to go to the Board of Public Works in early August.
Why it matters: The approved package adds ADA-accessible play elements and aims to replace a small existing play area with a roughly 4,000-square-foot playground that staff says should better meet neighborhood needs while staying inside the CIP allocation. Minor design refinements requested by the board are expected to be incorporated before installation.
