HomeMy WebLinkAbout03/01/1988, 6 - REQUEST FROM GRANDMOTHERS HOUSE FOR CITY TO INSTALL PLAYGROUND EQUIP AT MEADOW PARK �Illl�ln�ln�l III MEEf1NG DATE:
II II Ii city or san LUIS oBIspo ,� 3 MBS
COUNCIL AGEND EPORT
FROM: Jim Stockton, Recreation Departme
SUBJECT: Request From Grandmother's House for City to Install
Playground Equipment at Meadow Park
CAO RECOMMENDATION:
Deny Request from Grandmother's House to Install
Playground Equipment in Sandbox at Meadow Park
BACKGROUND:
On or about January 29, 1988, the Recreation Department and the Park and Recreation
Commission received like communications from Grandmother's House, a private
corporation currently using City facilities at Meadow Park on a temporary basis,
requesting that the City install playground equipment in the sandbox in the
pre-school area adjacent to the neighborhood center.
This letter arrived after close of the Commission agenda but was discussed by the
Commission at their regular February 3, 1988, meeting as a communication item.
The Commission reached consensus that additional information was needed before they
could make formal recommendation concerning this request. Commission requested that
staff investigate and determine the following:
1. Whether the installation could be accomplished and meet all Consumer Safety
Standards requirements.
2. Whether the installation would enhance Recreation Department programs for
pre-schoolers that are scheduled for this site.
3. Whether the installation would improve or add to the recreational experience
of the general public that may use the site when it is not in use by the
Recreation Department or Grandmother's House.
The Commission anticipated that the City Council could hear this request prior to
the next regular Commission meeting of March 2, 1988, and therefore authorized the
Park and Recreation Commission Chairman to work closely with staff and speak for the
Commission when investigation was complete.
Staff from Public Works and Parks and Recreation have completed their investigation
with the following findings:
1. The sandbox at Meadow Park is of sufficient dimension to allow installation
of a small playground play structure. The sandbox, however, would require
excavation to a depth of 14 inches and then be refilled with sand to this
depth to create the "sand cushion" required by the Safety Standards.
2. The sandbox is of insufficient size to allow play on the proposed equipment
and free play in the sand at the same time.
3. Recreation Department program coordinators believe that increased �I
supervision would be necessary if the playground equipment is installed.
►►��i �IUIIIIIIIIJPu ���UIU MY Of san _11S OBISPO
WNS COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
-2-
4. For Recreation Department sponsored pre-school programs, the sandbox as it
exists for creative sand play is a greater asset than an additional piece
of playground equipment.
5. Considering finding #2 above, it is the opinion of staff that in an
unsupervised situation the installation of playground equipment in the
sandbox may cause liability the City does not wish to accept. An
unsupervised situation is defined as when neither Recreation nor
Grandmother's House has a scheduled program in operation and the site is
open for use to the general public.
From these findings, staff must conclude that to install playground equipment in the
sandbox at Meadow Park is not in the best interest of the City and recommends that
the request from Grandmother's House be denied.
CONCURRENCE:
Park and Recreation Commission
ALTERNATIVES:
1. Deny request from Grandmother's House to install playground equipment in
sandbox at Meadow Park.
This alternative would indicate a continuation of current programming by both the
Recreation Department and Grandmother's House at the Meadow Park site until
Grandmother's House, a temporary user, secures other quarters.
2. Approve the request from Grandmother's House and direct staff to improve
the site and purchase and install the playground equipment.
This alternative would require an appropriation of funds to accomplish site
improvements, to purchase the equipment and to install the proposed playground
equipment. This alternative may also cause an increase in the number of program
leaders to maintain Recreation Department standards for pre-school activities.
3. No action. This would have the same effect as alternative #1.
RECOMMENDATION:
Deny request from Grandmother's House to install playground equipment in sandbox at
Meadow Park.
FISCAL IMPACT OF RECOMMENDED ACTION:
None.
ls/�