Haslet park board narrows playground bidders to three after vendor presentations

The Haslet Park Board voted unanimously July 8 to retain three finalists for the Community Park playground replacement after presentations from five vendors.

Cindy, a board member, moved that the board "retain Lee Park And Play, Burke/Child's Play, and We Build Fun and consider these three at our next meeting for the playground." The motion was seconded and carried by unanimous voice vote.

The decision followed presentations from manufacturers and representatives who outlined designs, warranties, lead times and maintenance needs. Sean Moran of Lee Park and Play told the board that Lee’s proposal would not exceed the $500,000 budget the city set aside for the project: "you are fully secure in that $500,000 number," Moran said during his presentation, which included inclusive features such as ADA transfer stations, sensory panels and a 20-by-20 shade structure.

Board members discussed trade-offs among the proposals: some firms offered higher counts of ground-level activities and sensory panels, while others emphasized larger towers or zip-line features. Public works staff advised the board that they could handle demolition and removal of existing equipment to reduce costs, but noted grading or drainage work would remain the contractor’s responsibility.

By narrowing to three finalists the board set up a next step in the procurement process: the selected finalists will be asked to provide any additional materials and attend the follow-up meeting so members can compare detailed proposals before making a final recommendation to city council.