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Playground redesign options presented after site grading errors; board tables change-order
Summary
Contractor Comp Am presented three redesign options for Joel Dean Park after crews found a 4–5 inch dip in the playground area; the board questioned who should pay for additional dirt work and moved to table the change-order resolution while staff obtains a final figure (staff said they could cover up to $915,000 in the budgeted program line).
Brent McGruder, sales representative for Comp Am, told the Board of Aldermen that a site-measurement discrepancy pushed the playground footprint into the water line and created a 4–5 inch depression in the middle of the site, necessitating grading changes. "There is a pretty significant dip in the middle of that playground... which is about 4.5 to 5 inch grade change," Brent said while presenting three redesign options that he said could be kept on budget by reallocating existing line items.
Board members debated whether the city should cover additional dirt work as a change order or expect the contractor or the original site-prep to have accounted for that cost. One board member said the city should not pay extra for dirt, arguing it should have been addressed during site preparation, while another member urged patience and noted that change orders are common on playground projects. Staff offered to obtain a precise cost estimate the next day and proposed using the grant and a contingency to cover up to $915,000 if needed; after discussion the board voted to table Resolution 2026-46 to allow staff and contractor to finalize the design and cost.
Why it matters: The playground is a publicly funded capital project with safety and ADA compliance implications; adjusting the footprint and zipline placement affects accessibility and usable park space. The board asked the contractor to return with a revised plan and cost estimate promptly so work and equipment deliveries can stay on schedule.
