Board approves Eric Carle–themed design for Greenway Terrace playground

The Waukesha Parks, Recreation and Forestry Board unanimously approved a new Eric Carle–themed playground design for Greenway Terrace Park and authorized the purchase of equipment.

Chair (speaking as meeting chair) moved to approve the project design and equipment purchase; Jennifer Wallner was recorded as the mover and Alderman Wells as the seconder. The motion passed on a unanimous voice vote. The transcript does not record individual roll‑call vote tallies.

Megan Phelan, the board’s special projects coordinator, said staff held a public input meeting on March 24 and promoted it on Facebook and by postcard; attendees favored the Eric Carle theme out of three options presented. "We presented three different kind of themes or identities for the different playgrounds," Phelan said, and the Eric Carle design was "the most favored among all of the playgrounds that we presented."

Erica of Northland Recreation, the project designer, described the equipment selected: a larger 2–5 structure for toddlers, a 5–12 main structure highlighted by an arched "Very Hungry Caterpillar" bridge with monkey bars underneath, multiple interactive play panels, an inclusive two‑bay swing (tot and belt seats) and a large spinner rated to hold up to 10 children. She said the sculpture elements will be hand‑painted and coated to resist graffiti while meeting commercial durability standards.

Board members asked about safety and options to reduce steep drops near the top of one slide. A board member said the design "is very much geared towards the younger kids" and suggested swapping the climber for a ladder or "snake climb"; Erica replied Northland designs with "graduated complexity" and can substitute different climber components to better match age zones.

Melissa Lipska, the project facilitator, gave timing details: staff will order equipment, contract for the concrete band and pour‑in‑place surfacing (the surfacing contract will be handled through the engineering department) and tentatively plan a community build for July 24. She said crews expect to remove the existing play structure around the end of June and aim for the full playground to be ready by mid‑August, though dates will firm up once engineering awards the surfacing bid.

Staff estimated the playground budget is in the neighborhood of $300,000. The transcript records that figure as an approximate estimate; final contract amounts and vendor selections will be determined during procurement.

The board did not record amendments or conditions during the vote. Next steps identified in the meeting record are ordering equipment, coordinating with engineering on the pour‑in‑place surfacing bid, and publicizing volunteer opportunities for the community build.