6.A. PRSR 02-13-2013 El REQUEST FOR ACTION
River
TO ITEM NUMBER
Parks and Recreation Commission 6.A.
AGENDA SECTION MEETING DATE PREPARED BY
Action Item February 13, 2013 Michael Hecker, Parks and Recreation
Director
ITEM DESCRIPTION REVIEWED BY
Recommend the current playground at Orono Park be removed Cal Pormer, City Administrator
and replaced with a recommended design. REVIEWED BY
ACTION REQUESTED
Recommend the removal of the current playground at Orono Park for liability/safety reasons and
recommend that it be replaced with a playground design recommended at the January 9 work session.
BACKGROUND/DISCUSSION
Due to the potential hazards and non-conforming issues with the current playground at Orono Park,the
Parks and Recreation Department staff recommends that the current playground structure be removed
and replaced. The current play structure is over 25-years old and some of the potential hazards that have
been found are based on compliance with ASTM standards.
At the January 9, 2013 Parks and Recreation Commission work session, six different design options were
presented. The vendors were requested to present concepts with a budget of up to $250,000 for a
destination type playground with a "Powered by Nature" theme. The budget amount includes the
equipment,concrete, fall surface protection, and labor for installation. Also,within the scope is to
remove the large boulder play structure at Windsor Park and install it at Orono. All of the features for
each concept were presented in a video format to better understand how they are used by children and
meet the overall theme.
The Lake Orono Improvement Association members and a small number from the general public did
receive an invitation to the work session. About 20 people, including the Commission members,were in
attendance at the work session. A general consensus was quickly reached with the preferred playground
concept. The playground concept recommended for Orono is attached. Some of the feedback for its
preference was "it strongly shows the nature theme with its iconic tree house type tower:"
The same six concepts were also presented to over 120 fifth graders at Otsego Elementary School on
January 30. The same presentation was given and again the consensus was for the same playground
concept that is recommended.
An updated presentation on the preferred playground will be provided at the February 13 meeting.
ATTACHMENTS
Orono Park Playground Recommended Design
'P O W E R E D Ill
NATUR