Corte Madera looks to update playground
Children might be getting a playground upgrade at Town Park in Corte Madera.
The Parks and Recreation Commission directed staff Monday to move forward with creating a new play structure for children between 5 and 12 years old. The playground is more than 20 years old and has safety issues, according to Tim Barry, the parks and recreation director.
“This is a fun part of my job, to redesign a playground,” Barry said. “This is a project that is near to a lot of people’s hearts.”
The playground, which is near the parking lot along Pixley Avenue, is the most used playground in Corte Madera. Barry said its location next to a park and pickleball courts helps draw people from outside of town.
The play structure was built in the early 2000s. An annual evaluation prompted the town to board up part of the structure because of unsafe conditions.
“Staff have gotten quite a few questions about when are we getting a new playground and how do we get it fixed,” Barry said.
The playground includes slides, climbing areas, game zones and bridges. Town staff said they have begun contacting vendors about features that could be included in the new playground.
“When you’ve approached the manufacturers of these, how do they sell them, are there packages?” asked Tim Rose, a commissioner. “I mean, clearly it’s not piecemeal, a la carte picking.”
Barry said it can be by pieces, one big structure “or whatever your imagination can build.” He said staff are looking at interactive and inclusive play structures, slides and some climbing structures.
“I think what might be a concern would be you’d have too many options,” Rose said. “You get lost in a menu.”
Rose recommended a community survey to narrow down ideas. Barry recommended the town ask vendors what is available for kids between 5 and 12 years old first.
Commissioner Pati Stoliar said the playground should have a resilient surface, and noted how the new playground at Pioneer Park in Novato has inclusive play structures.
“I sure hope we can integrate some all-ability things into the new structure,” Stoliar said. “The other thing, about the resilient surface, I kind of feel like, let’s not do it in an incomplete way, let’s do it right.”
The town has budgeted $150,000 for the project, but that doesn’t include installing a resilient surface. Such surfaces consist of materials like recycled rubber to absorb impacts and reduce injuries.
A subcommittee that includes Rose will work on the playground details and getting community comments before a design is presented to the full commission.
Barry said he hopes to have the project completed this year.