Council approves expanded playground plan; donations cut city outlay to about $72,200

The council approved an amended playground plan that expands the play area, adds a zip line and new equipment for 2‑to‑5‑year‑olds, and upgrades surfacing from wood to rubber mulch after staff presented multiple vendor quotes and a package of local donations.

"So our grand total, instead of being a 109,000, we would be out of pocket only $72,213," the presenter said while summarizing combined quotes and expected donated equipment and services. The presenter described multiple vendor options — a higher-cost Zip Cube system and lower-cost alternatives — and recommended mixing quotes and donations to preserve key ADA elements while keeping costs down.

Council members asked staff to review plaque and signage designs to avoid 'a running billboard' aesthetic and to confirm donor commitments before final installation. A motion to amend and approve the 'version 5' plan that incorporated donations and the fence/parking adjustments was made and seconded; the council conducted a voice vote and members responded in the affirmative in the record.

Next steps: staff will confirm donor commitments and bring final design for plaques and signage back for council review; construction scheduling and traffic-control plans will be coordinated with the road work already under way.