City Committee can't agree on Waterfront Park playground size and structure

The ship design was favored but wouldn't fit in the space allotted for play equipment.

It's back to the drawing board for the city's Parks and Recreation Advisory Board on exactly what piece of playground equipment should be included in the riverfront park that is now under construction.

During an hour debate Tuesday, a motion to expand the size of the allotted space to accommodate a sailing ship play structure failed by a 4-3 vote. That piece of equipment also exceeded the city's budget of $115,000 for a play structure.

A second design, a lighthouse structure also failed to garner enough support from the group.

That led the board to vote to have city staff continue the search for alternative equipment designs that would fit in the park's designated space of a 27-foot circular area.

"I do not like the expansion (of the space) and do not support that at all," said Board Member Sheila Cocchi, just before a 7-0 vote to directing city staff to pursue other equipment designs.

The sailing ship design was outside the designated budget and would require an expanded area to be put into the park, explained Parks and Recreation Director Scott Mikelson. Estimated cost for the ship structure was $151,000.

Board member Jennifer Mountjoy favored expanding the playground area to accommodate the ship design. She argued that smaller play structures similar to those at Central Park can only accommodate several kids.

"If we're putting $2.3 million into the park which is supposed to be the new centerpiece of downtown, I think you really want to make it something that is really unique and cool," Mountjoy said. "I think putting something there that is just for two- to five-year-olds when you're going to have older kids down there, it's going to get crowded and dangerous."

She said private donations could make up the difference for paying for the equipment.

"For the additional costs, this is something I can't support," Cocchi said.

The motion to expand the play area to fit the ship structure failed by a 4-3 vote.

The debate over the playground area has included a board workshop conducted at the park site on the riverfront just south of the city marina boat ramp. At that meeting, the board rejected installing a structure called Global Motion.

Cocchi made the motion to find equipment alternatives within the budget, which was approved.

Any decision on what equipment is installed in the new park would have to be approved by the city commission.

"I really think putting in a smaller structure is going to be a big disappointment," Mountjoy said, before the final vote.