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A larger playground is on its way to the Oscar Johnson Jr. Enrichment and Recreation Center after Conroe City Council approved a $275,836.72 proposal Sept. 24.
The council approved the new proposal without opposition, moving ahead with a larger design after council members questioned a nearly $90,000 replacement proposal earlier this summer.
The details
According to the documents, the proposal from GameTime includes:
A play structure designed for children ages 5-12
A three-bay swing set
Activity panels
Musical instruments
A spinning play feature
It also includes safety surfacing, drainage work, curbs and a sidewalk.
During the meeting, Community Development Director Brandy Taylor highlighted the design’s shade canopy and lower-height play features intended to make more of the playground accessible to children with disabilities.
Textured features were included in response to a resident’s concern about play options for children with autism, staff said.
Staff worked with the playground designer and brought the proposal to the Oscar Johnson board, which supported the design, according to the meeting discussion.
The vendor has also agreed to remove the damaged playground equipment. Staff could not immediately say whether removal carries a separate cost or is included in the contract.
What they said
Council members asked how long the new equipment might last and how many children could use it. A representative said the city has equipment from the same manufacturer that is more than 20 years old.
The staff member estimated the proposed playground could accommodate about 80-100 children, though that was an estimate rather than a stated manufacturer capacity. Center staff schedule activities so children are not all using the playground at once, Taylor said.
The price is roughly three times the nearly $90,000 option council delayed June 25. At that meeting, council members raised concerns that the smaller replacement did not go far enough for the new facility.
The council also asked where the additional money would come from. Taylor said the purchase will be funded through the Oscar Johnson building fund, which has money available. The city expects a little less than $100,000 from its insurer toward the project after the old playground was deemed a total loss, she said.
