Thanks to over 180 park users who responded to our questionnaire to tell us what you would like to see in a new playground. Staff is working on a concept design based on this feedback and will post the draft design here once complete. Join the project email list to receive updates!
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On July 29 and 30, 2022, staff held two in-person public meetings at North Boulder Park. In addition to the two in-person meetings, an online questionnaire was also available to the public. The intent of the meetings and online questionnaire was to gauge playground users’ preferences in playground themes and styles. They also provided staff the opportunity to listen to park and playground users and hear about their experiences at the playground and park.
The Friday, July 29, in-person meeting was held from 5-7 p.m. Approximately 50 people stopped by to talk with staff. The Saturday, July 30 in-person meeting was held from 9-11 a.m. Approximately 30 people stopped by. 46 people, mostly kids, filled out our kid-friendly survey (26 on Friday and 20 on Saturday). Responses to the online questionnaire closed on August 4 with 182 complete responses received.
Over the next month, staff will be analyzing the feedback and questionnaire responses to find consistent themes and trends. Staff will use this information to draft a concept plan for the new playground and equipment. This plan will be posted online and shared with the Parks Recreation and Advisory Board (PRAB) for a final round of feedback in September. Given the limited scope of this project, the second round of community feedback will be online only.
At the July PRAB meeting, PRAB members had the following questions and comments regarding the playground replacement project at North Boulder Park
Question/Comment: Will the fitness equipment at North Boulder Park be removed and/or replaced? The movable equipment is not used by adults and is often used by kids. The sense is that the stationary, body-weight equipment is frequently used by adults.
Response: At this point, no determination has been made on whether the existing fitness equipment should be removed, relocated, or replaced. A recommendation will be made with the concept plan that is developed over the next month and shared with the community and the PRAB. Staff has heard the comments provided by PRAB and had the opportunity to receive feedback from the public at the July 29 and 30 in-person meetings, as well as comments received from the online questionnaire. Staff will similarly consider comments from the Parks Operations and Maintenance team.
Early comments from the in-person meetings and online feedback are consistent with comments provided by the PRAB. Those comments are that the stationary equipment is popular and used by adults, but that the equipment with movable parts is not well-used by adults. Rather the movable equipment is used by younger playground users and is a safety concern for these users.
Moving forward, staff will be looking at opportunities to preserve the stationery equipment. However, consideration will need to be given to proximity to the new playground equipment that is installed, so similar safety concerns are not replicated.
Below is an approximate timeline for the duration of the project:
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Project kick-off: June 2022
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Initial public outreach and in-person feedback: July 2022
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Analysis of public feedback and concept plan development: August through September 2022
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Final concept plan: September 2022
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Materials purchasing and procurement: October through December 2022
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Anticipated construction start date: Q1 2023
In addition to the playground replacement, the department is also coordinating with the city’s Facilities Department to renovate and improve the existing shelter and shelter restrooms. The existing restrooms will be converted to year-round, unisex, ADA compliant facilities.