HomeMy WebLinkAboutNB 1 FRONTIER PARK 10-05-83AGENDA
· ,: 10-5-83
Inter-Corn
~T[: September 13, Ig83
S UBJ ECT:
William A. Huston, City Manager
Jeff Kolin, Recreation Superintendent
FRONTIER PARK
-RECO~4ENDATION:
Pleasure of the Council.
FISCAL IMPACTS:
Project would involve a non-budgeted expenditure of approximately $10,000.
BACKGROUND:
Mrs. Thomas, a neighbor and parent living near Frontier Park, contacted the
City Council via a letter on April 15, 1983. Mrs. Thomas outlined several
concerns with the safety of the playground area at Frontier Park and asked
that the City remedy them.
Staff met with Mrs. Thomas and a small group of parents from the neighborhood
near the park. A review of the Frontier Park playground equipment was completed
which took into consideration the concerns voiced by Mrs. Thomas and the
neighbors. The Orange County Cities Risk Management Agency (OCCRMA) was also
contacted and asked to conduct an independent review of our parks and their
playground equipment.
The review identified several areas of concern which have been corrected by
staff. A defective climbing apparatus has been removed from Frontier Park.
Additional soil material has been added to the ground area at the exit poiht
of the spiral slide, raising the ground level and reducing the height of the
drop-off. Three spring animal ~oys with exposed concrete footings have been
removed and reinstalled in a more westerly area within the playground. A new
drain cover has been installed over the drainage inlet within the rocking toy
area. All of the above repairs were completed by in-house Maintenance Department
personnel.
An estimated cost of $200. per bridge has been established for the placement of
handrails. The handrails, as requested by Mrs. Thomas, would consist of a
two-tier galvanized pipe on each side of the bridge. Staff feels that any
railing placed on the bridges would be a temptation for young children to
climb. It is recomnended that handrails not be installed on the. Frontier Park
bridges. The distance between the bridge and the ground below is minimal and
the chance of serious injury is slight.
FRONTIER PARK
Page'Two
September 13, 1983
A number of other concerns were voiced by the Thomas group which staff has
examined and feels are best solved by the development of a separate tot lot area
within Frontier Park. Structural changes to existing installed equipment could
make the City totally liable for any mishaps that may occur with the modified
equipment. Rather than try to modify existing equipment to meet the needs of
younger children, it is recommended that a new facility be designed to accommodate
the younger child.
Several local playground equipment companies have been contacted on an informal
basis and asked to provide suggestions for a new tot lot area. Cost estimates
for the new playground equipment and installations have ranged from $8,000. to
$10,000. The installation of a tot lot designed specifically for younger
children will provide an added dimension to Frontier Park while preserving the
highly-used existing playground structure for older children.
SUMMARY:
The review of Frontier Park has shown a lack of playground equipment which has
been specifically designed for young children. Rather than modify existing
equipment thereby creating increased liability exposure for the City, staff
recommends the construction of a new play area designed to meet the unique
requirements and safety considerations of young children. The $10,000. required
to construct such a facility is substantial and must be deliberated upon in a
period of budgetary constraints. This concept has been reviewed with Mrs.
Thomas. She feels that it offers a realistic approach to the solution of the
concerns identified with the existing Frontier Park playground area.
Jeff~'~'
Recreation Superintendent
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