CC PACKET 06091997 - Laserfiche WebLink

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. TO: Mike Morrison FROM: Kathy Knapp ' DATE: June 5, 1997 RE: Park improvements Mike, after meeting with you and discussing the City's plans for park improvements, specifically putting the playground back in for Community Services, I wanted to clarify a few items. A 4,500 square foot playground on the northeast corner of the Community Center building would work for us. However, after hearing the community's concern about wanting a larger playground, and after the problem we are having with walking the school age children.to Central Park, a larger playground would be best. The other concern I have is that of the added cost to have both playgrounds or to temporarily put a small one in due to Community Services' need. With only $20,000 to $25,000 available for developing a playground, I think it is best to direct it all to one playground that is visible to the entire community. Currently Community Services has received a variance from the Department of Human Services due to the building construction and lack of a "formal playground." They would like to see us get that soon, but they appear to be flexible enough so that staff can indeed ask for an extension of the variance, if need be. As I am certain you can imagine, it is extremely difficult to provide care for children and not have an outdoor area where they can run and play, especially during the summer months. So, the quicker we get a playground in, the better, from both a regulation and curriculum standpoint. My recommendation, to save money, satisfy the community's needs and the Department of Human Services regulations is that we ask the Department of Human Services for an extension of our variance and get some deadline information from them. If we are granted the extension, then we could begin to develop the 28,000 - 30,000 square foot playground. This would need to begin quickly in an effort to demonstrate to Human Services our intent. Then, we could begin phasing in new equipment over a time, as monies became available, using some of or all the old equipment, based on ADA regulations. Perhaps public works employees could paint some of the old equipment so that it would not be an eyesore along side new pieces. If the larger playground is built, it will be essential that a wide age-range of equipment be purchased. We certainly do not want the entire playground dedicated to "tots." The former playground served an age span of toddlers to preschoolers to school-age (grade 5) children. It is also important for children that there be plenty of green space located . inside this play area for various recreational games. It is in part for that reason that we can phase in equipment.