Riverside unveils Turtle Park playground design, seeks cost savings before construction bid

Director Ron Malchiotti, parks and recreation staff and consultants from RVI Planning & Landscape Architecture presented proposed designs for a renovated Turtle Park playground at the Village Board meeting on March 5.

The plan, developed after a 2023 master planning process and community engagement that included an open house and meetings with preservation and landscape commissions, keeps the project largely inside the existing playground footprint while increasing play capacity, accessibility and variety. "Our goal is to provide fun and inclusive play opportunities for a variety of ages," Malchiotti said, adding the design seeks materials and forms that blend with the park's natural landscape.

Consultant Steve Conters described specific features: a new concrete walkway tying into existing access, a refurbished sand play area with the park’s turtle sculpture, an ADA-accessible ramp to surfacing, new swing sets (including an ADA-accessible swing and a parent-and-child swing), expanded play structures with ramps and slides, sensory and balance features and reuse of existing stone walls. "We're maintaining the main footprint and existing curb line," Conters said, noting some modest footprint expansion for a primary play node.

On funding, Malchiotti said the village obtained $250,000 in state funding through the office of Representative Rasheed and has a sesquicentennial legacy donation, but initial estimates exceed available state funds. "On paper this project may appear over budget," Malchiotti said. He said village management, public works and staff are already identifying cost reductions such as purchasing equipment directly and performing some work in-house.

Staff and the consultant said they expect to finish construction documents during March and aim to put the project out to bid in April to take advantage of the early-spring bid market, with a construction schedule that could allow the playground to open this year. The board emphasized it will see final plans and contract award before construction begins.

The board and several trustees asked about design details and thematic elements. Conters said the plan includes subtle turtle-track imprints in pavement and retention of the existing turtle sculpture; more overt turtle-themed pieces could be explored in construction documents if budget allows. Trustees also discussed phase-two natural-material elements and how dedicated pickleball courts would be addressed within future park renovation work rather than as part of this playground effort.

Next steps: staff will finish construction documents, return to the board with final plans and bring a contract award for approval prior to construction.