Centerville’s Community Park at 1350 North 400 West is getting a new playground. On Jan. 7 the city council approved Garrett Parks & Play’s $349,999.50 bid. The other bidder on the project was Big T Recreation with a bid of $349,795.80.

The city’s park and recreation committee has been studying this issue and gathering community feedback since last August, committee member Sean Hall told the city council at a work session that evening. Looking at the issue, the committee decided their priorities were a playground that targets users ages 5-12 and that includes swings, multi levels for play, climbing options, an obstacle course, benches with shade, slides of differing sizes and areas where free play is encouraged. They also wanted an organic look for the playground and favored using earth tone colors. What they really hoped for was something that would set the Centerville community apart, Hall said.

“This is our community park,” he said. “We want to make sure that it’s epic, that it’s a wonderful experience.” 

The committee originally considered eight different designs but whittled that down to two options – one each from Garrett and Big T – which Hall presented to the city council in a work session that evening. Both checked off most of the committee’s boxes, Hall said.

In the end the majority of committee members favored the Garrett design for its unique climbing structure. The Garrett design is “very feature rich. What we mean by that there’s a lot of different activities and things for the kids to play on,” Hall said.

In the formal meeting the city council voted to approve the Garrett option because it includes more features and resonated well with children who viewed the drawings.

“It means a lot to me that the kids get most excited about that one,” Councilmember Gina Hirst said. 

The Garrett option includes four swings (two of them for toddlers), a megatower play structure with bongo stumps and a half-moon type of climbing structure. For freestanding play there’s a 10 spin, a  jumping bean, two saddle seat spinners, what’s called a “Miracle Museum Momentum Corridor” and interactive play panels with tongue drum inserts and a little kids play structure. The area will be lined with “play turf” – a type of synthetic grass specifically designed for playgrounds, with a cushioned surface for children to play on. A 6-foot bench will also be provided for parents. The bid did not include any shaded structures. Instead, shade for the playground will be provided by adjacent trees. The city plans to plant several new trees on the north side of the park to help with shade.

City officials are hopeful construction can begin in the spring and be completed in time for Centerville’s July 4 celebration. The playground is expected to last 15 to 20 years. λ