The board of trustees approved a vendor for the project following a presentation by Bond Project Manager Sid Grant on Jan. 22.
The details
The playground replacements include two equipment sets; one for prekindergarten through first grade, and the other for second grade through fifth grade, Grant said. An eight-person swing set will accompany the playground along with one swing compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
The wood chips that previously lined the playground beds will be replaced with a blue cushioned rubber material that is safer, more durable and more insulated, Grant said. Shade structures will also be installed over each playground equipment set to help shield against boiling summer temperatures.
More details
The district opted to work with Lea Park and Play, a company out of Richardson that has completed similar projects in surrounding school districts. The company bid the replacements at a total of $3.1 million, Grant said.
The project is set to begin in April, and nine schools are scheduled to finish by this fall, with the 10th slated to complete next summer, he said.
Next steps
District officials will bring the second component of this project before the board for consideration in February, which will encompass the demolition and haul off of the existing playgrounds, the grading and drainage for the new playground spaces, and the addition of concrete pads, Grant said.
