Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Parks Playground Safety topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Roeland Park delays 'Mighty Bike' playground opening after safety consultant flags 18 issues
Summary
Parks Superintendent Nathan Brunkard said a safety inspection found about 18 items to fix on the new 'Mighty Bike' playground, including head-entrapment and wobble concerns; staff are working with the contractor and a safety consultant and hope for a March–April opening but said additional costs or change orders may be required.
Parks Superintendent Nathan Brunkard told the council the city’s new "Mighty Bike" playground has stalled after a final safety inspection by consultant Abundant PlaySpaces identified about 18 compliance or safety issues that must be addressed before the structure can be certified for public use.
Brunkard said inspectors found head-entrapment risks in places where probes passed through, netting that created new concerns when removed, timing gaps between platforms, and a sway or wobble on a purple platform that required added support. "They had a little, computer probe that they dropped from different heights to tell you if it was safe to to fall off them," Brunkard said of the final inspection. He added the report included 18 items to address before reinspection and certification.
The city has a safety consultant engaged and is coordinating weekly with the general contractor (Dimensional Innovations) and a subcontractor (Machine Head) on corrective plans. Brunkard said some proposed fixes would require bolting rather than welding to avoid stripping the unit's powder coating, and that some changes could require a change order and extra funds. Council member Madigan called the situation a "boondoggle," asking what the final tab might be; staff said they could not provide a firm number until a finalized punch list and pricing are complete.
City staff noted more than half of the project's cost has come from private donations and that staff will continue to update donors. Brunkard said he hopes to have the structure open by March or April but could not confirm until the contractor and safety consultant approve concept fixes and a reinspection occurs.
Next steps: Parks staff will finalize a corrective punch list, seek cost estimates and return with a timeline and any funding requests if a change order is required.
