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Upper Providence moves ahead on playground design and community-center staffing changes
Summary
Staff told the Park Board the McFarland playground project (grading, surfacing and access) is budgeted at about $600,000 and could be completed this year; the township will assume front-desk operation at the community center in July and hire part-time program staff.
Township parks staff updated the Upper Providence Park Board on a major playground project and changes at the community center during the May meeting.
Sue, a parks staff member, told the board that ordering playground equipment will take roughly six to eight weeks and that the full project — including grading, two parking-space reconstruction, paths and surfacing — is budgeted at about $600,000. "It's about 600 k, just over," she said, and added that the figure covers grading, surfacing and other site work. Staff said they hope the playground will be built and ready by the end of the year, subject to permitting and final design.
Sue described surfacing options under consideration, including the existing "pour-in-place" surfacing and newer "smart turf" systems that stay cool and have a subsurface water system. "I'm very intrigued," she said after visiting an example listed as Savannah's Playground in Myrtle Beach.
Separately, staff outlined a reorganization of community-center operations: the township will assume front-desk responsibilities in July, keep contracted fitness services, and recruit a part-time program coordinator and two to three site leads to support expanded programming. The move is intended to give residents more predictable front-of-house staffing and allow the parks staff to focus on grants, trail planning and larger projects.
Staff also noted the township is deferring some grant applications until the playground and crosswalk design are further developed, and that a planned crosswalk across to a new development will begin after design and permitting. Work on the playground and staffing changes will continue as the board monitors permitting and budget details.
