(Credit: Kompan via Saratoga Springs, 2022)
The Veterans Memorial Park playground concept by Kompan Inc., includes a strong nod toward water and geysers. The main structure, at bottom, will reach nearly 30 feet high.
The “destination playground” approved last year won funding, nearly $870,000, from the Saratoga Springs City Council Tuesday evening Fe.b 21. Kompan Inc. will install the playground at Veterans Memorial Park. Work starts this summer.
A destination playground is one so large and fun as to become a tourism attraction for parents and children not unlike the city’s race course and performing arts center.
“This will be fully handicapped accessible,” Mayor Ron Kim said, referring to a statement from the city's Administrative Director of Recreation John Hirliman . A presentation by Kompan last July highlighted many of the ways in which it was accessible.
[See our earlier coverage here.]
Commissioner of Accounts Dillon Moran said a group of concerned parents, including friends of his, have children living with disabilities and they brought forward some concerns about the accessibility and the design. He said that Hirliman had sent Moran ADA accessibility information about the project, but that the parents have told him that sometimes the designs look better on paper than in reality.
“Certainly I believe the attempt has been there,” Moran said. “The inclusiveness of the play structure is incredibly important.”
He asked that he could set a meeting with the mayor, Commissioner of Public Works Jason Golub and the families to make sure the design is fully accessible.
“Sure. Makes sense,” the mayor replied just before the unanimous vote.
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We reported in July that the city had $340,000 for the project and planned $530,000 in capital funding. The total contracted cost is $1,070,000. Our story last year said that Saratoga Springs Friends of Recreation is planning to raise nearly $200,000 to cover the portion not covered by the city.
The most expensive items in the design include a 30-foot-tall tower with slides, a “four mast octa-net” climbing area and a “pathfinder” off-the-ground climbing, ramp and deck structure.
As the council discussed the vote, Moran also asked about the competitive nature of the bid and was told this was a project piggybacking of a state contract and therefore could be approved without multiple bids.
Kompan has worked on several other playground projects in the city, including West Side Rec, and the school district’s playgrounds and outdoor classrooms.