11-05-2025 City Council Meeting Packet

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STAFF REPORT DATE: 11/04/2025 Consent TO: CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM: Lions Park Playground Replacement FROM: Assistant Public Works Director – Adam Swanepoel REVIEWED BY: Public Works Director – Marty Powers CORE STRATEGIES: ☒ Vibrant, inclusive, connected community ☐ Efficient, reliable, innovative services ☐ Responsive, transparent, adaptive governance ☐ Balanced Finances now and future ☒ Managed Growth ☐ Resilient Infrastructure BACKGROUND: The Lions Park playground, installed in 2000, has surpassed its lifespan and is slated for future replacement, as discussed in the 2024 and 2025 capital improvement plans. Survey results from the Parks Master Plan in 2024 showed 58% of those surveyed visited Lions Park. Lions Park was also listed as the #1 park most often visited by users. Survey results also showed playground use was the 2nd most common activity people used the park for. At the July Parks Commission meeting, commissioners agreed to move forward with the planning and design of a new play set. Recommendations for the playset were to design a park to serve kids ages 5-12+, incorporate an active play, add benches and offer items that would be suitable for teens. The following options were brought in front of the Parks Commission on August 18, 2025. The commission voted 6-0 all in favor of recommending option #4 to City Council. The recommendation at the time was to not exceed $317,000, knowing there will be landscaping to complete following the projects’ completion. City Council reviewed the Parks Commissions recommendation on 9/02/2025 and tabled the discussion to review the playground replacement topic along with future park amenities with the Parks Commission. A workshop was held in September with Council and the Parks Commission. Council directed the Parks Commission to review and consider other options in leu of playground replacements in neighborhood parks going forward.