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HomeMy WebLinkAboutIR 9665 NFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 9665 To the Mayor and Members of the City Council August 26, 2014 haT�A� Page 1 of 2 �s *a SUBJECT: ACCESSIBLE PLAYGROUNDS AND FUNDING SOURCES 1g7S The purpose of this Informal Report is to explain accessibility standards, funding and private partnerships for City of Fort Worth playgrounds. Accessibility There are 186 playgrounds within the current park inventory of 263 parks. All playgrounds meet the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements in place at the time of installation. In 2004 the Parks and Community Services Department developed three (3) playground prototypes which met size, scope and cost standards, in addition to design and regulatory standards for equipment spacing, target age use, accessibility regulations, etc. In 2011 the prototypes were updated and an additional prototype was added to the catalogue. This tactic has enabled staff to work with neighborhood and community groups through a more efficient prototype selection process which best meets the neighborhood's preferred playground amenity. From a maintenance and operational standpoint, the prototypes improve installation and maintenance efficiency. Each prototype is approximately 4,500 square feet and the equipment meets the following standards: • U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commissions Guidelines • International Play Equipment Manufacturers Association (IPEMA) Certification • ASTM designation F-1487 (Standard Consumer Safety Performance Specifications for Playground Equipment for Public Use) • Federal Americans with Disabilities Act • Texas Accessibility Standards Consistent with the above, each prototype is in compliance with section 15.6.2.2 (ground level requirements based on elevated play components) of the "guide to the ADA Accessibility guidelines for play areas." Each also utilizes ADA compliant engineered wood fiber surfacing and includes accessible ramps into the playground area. Capital Investment The current cost for prototype playgrounds is estimated at $145,200. This includes the installation of the equipment and related site work and improvements including concrete edging, earthwork, drainage, accessible ramp into the playground and "engineered" wood fiber safety surfacing. The annual maintenance cost for a standard playground averages $1,700.00 which includes the replenishment of displaced wood fiber surfacing ($250-$300/year). The Department's five year capital needs list included replacement of forty (40) playgrounds. With limited resources, the 2014 Bond Program allocated $2,600,000 for the replacement of 16 playgrounds all at the $145,200 cost with the exception of the LeBlanc Park playground which is described in the next section. Staff has investigated the use of poured-in-place (PIP) surfacing at playground locations as recently suggested by a citizen. The net initial cost of installing PIP with playground replacements ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS NFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 9665 To the Mayor and Members of the City Council August 26, 2014 haT�A� Page 2 of 2 �s *a SUBJECT: ACCESSIBLE PLAYGROUNDS AND FUNDING SOURCES 1g7S would add $45,000 to each replacement ($10 per square foot) thus increasing the unit cost from $145,200 to $190,200. The PIP material has a higher maintenance cost and shorter expected useful life. Maintenance cost estimates are $1 per square foot (materials and labor), which equates to $4,500 biennially (or $2,250 annualized). Due to the life expectancy the PIP would require replacement every ten (10) years. Because there would be an existing sub-base established at the original installment the replacement cost would be slightly less at $33,750 ($7.50/SF). As a result of this added installation and maintenance cost, staff does not recommend that this element be routinely added to playgrounds. However, we are currently working with a citizen who has committed to raise funds for this element, or additional play pieces, at Northside Park. Partnership Investment and Re-Investment The City's first universal playground was built at Patricia LeBlanc Park in 1992 and funded by a private donation. All City of Fort Worth parks are ADA compliant, meaning they meet or exceed the standards for accessibility in place at the time of installation as outlined in the Texas Accessibility Standards. In comparison, universal playgrounds are larger, 15-20,000 SF facilities that incorporate a greater variety of play elements including ramps to elevated play areas on a much larger scope and scale. In order to accommodate a higher level of use as both patronage quantity and length of stay increase, and to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for both playground and surrounding park users, these destination parks must support additional traffic and parking needs. They must also consider inclusion of other park facilities such as restrooms, drinking fountains, and shade structures. The 2014 Bond Program allocates $400,000 for replacement of this playground. The original playground sponsors are contributing an estimated additional $68,000 from the playground trust. Staff is currently in the process of purchasing the playground equipment. Construction is anticipated to be complete in May 2015. Additionally, as reported to the City Council in an April 8, 2014 memorandum, staff is working with Fort Worth Dream Park, Inc., a private non-profit organization, on a universal playground to be centrally located in Fort Worth. The results of a traffic study are under review, including mitigation for increased traffic and parking capacity, to determine the feasibility of locating that playground in Trinity Park. The initial project fundraising goal identified by Dream Park, Inc. amounted to $1 ,000,000. Long-term, the Parks and Community Services Department recommends the establishment of up to five (5) universal playgrounds on a regional basis as funds and partnerships become available. Should you have any questions regarding this Informal Report please contact Parks and Community Services Director Richard Zavala or Assistant City Manager Susan Alanis. David Cooke City Manager ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS