Parks advisory board favors Craftsman 'silver' design, keeps options near $140,000 bond limit

The Parks and Recreation Advisory Board on April 20 reviewed playground replacement options for Lower Sellmeier Park and signaled support for the Craftsman Playgrounds "silver" design and Cunningham Recreation bronze/silver alternatives as the board's preferred choices to present to City Council. Staff said the project will be funded from 2020–2022 bond proceeds with a budget of $140,000.

"The budget amount for the project is $140,000," staff told the board while presenting vendor renderings and three cost tiers. Craftsman’s bronze option arrived at $128,103; staff said the Craftsman silver offers a turf-style layout with a tunnel and slide that matched resident input. Game Time/Cunningham’s bronze option was priced at about $120,638.74, with silver and gold increasing play elements and cost.

Board members emphasized staying close to the bond figure. "I think the Craftsman silver would be on a recommended list," the chair said after discussion, while another member noted that the Craftsman gold option appeared to be roughly $30,000 over budget and was therefore likely out of consideration. Staff reiterated that the final funding decision rests with council and that the board’s role is to provide a preference to guide residents and the council.

Staff will post an online survey listing the renderings and prices to gather resident input; survey results will be presented at the May board meeting and used to form a recommendation to council. The board also discussed minor site additions—replacing a picnic pad and adding an ADA-compliant 5-foot sidewalk to a new 15-by-15 concrete pad with table and grill—estimated at $12,500–$13,500 if included.