LAKEPORT >> Lakeport will be updating their Library Park structure with new equipment and removing the current donated structure, as announced in its Tuesday City Council meeting.
Lakeport Public Works Director Doug Grider said that the park needs a new playground for those who are between the ages of five and 12. This is to meet all safety requirements and the increasing demand for children activities in the park.
After learning that the makers of the current playground are no longer in business, the City found it could no longer purchase repair or replacement parts for the structure, leaving no option but to buy an entirely new set.
“This selection was taken to the City Park and Rec Commission and they reviewed six different play structures presented from three vendors,” Grider said.
The commission looked at various factors when choosing the play structure such as sustainability, history of the manufacturer and their products, current and future availability of parts and support, quality and durability of the product and the values and cost.
“The company that made that structure is no longer in business, and in the playground business you won’t find one playground company that’s going to sell you parts to put on someone else’s play structure because of a liability issue,” Grider said.
This has led the city to purchase the new play structure at the cost of $74,687.19. Grider said these funds would be appropriated from the current fiscal year’s budget and Measure Z revenues.
The structure is coming from Ross Recreation Equipment, based in Santa Rosa. There were some recommendations and additions added to the play structure Grider said.
“The one good thing about this company is that this supplier is as local as you can get for play structures,” Grider said. “They’ve been there for many, many years.”
Having this reliability for play structures is essential, he said, as having to shut one down because the equipment on it is not working is “a big deal.”
The new playground will have a theme, too: nature. A digital preview showed the green, earth-toned structure to have a wall with fish prints. Since the city council has just approved the contract, it may still be some time before the installation of the new play area.
