Memorandum

City of Lawrence

Parks & Recreation Department

TO:	Thomas M. Markus, City Manager
CC:	Diane Stoddard, Assistant City Manager Casey Toomay, Assistant City Manager Ernie Shaw, Interim Director, Parks & Recreation
FROM:	Mark Hecker, Assistant Director, Parks and Recreation
DATE:	May 5, 2016
RE:	Playground Surfacing – RFP Number R1604

Background

The Parks & Recreation Department operates and maintains 35 playgrounds in the City’s parks system. In 2012 new ADA laws were enacted that further delineate the need for more accessible surfacing under public owned playgrounds. The past practice of using wood chips under all play structures, in all locations, is no longer acceptable. This project will be the second of a multi-year project to upgrade our playgrounds from loose fill surfacing to poured-in-place rubber surfacing. The primary initial goal is to establish fully accessible play structures in all portions of the City.  The playgrounds being proposed, in this project, are located in Holcom Park and in Centennial Park. These are both highly used facilities with relatively new play structures.

Project Funding

This project with be funded from the Sales Tax Reserve fund.  

Proposal Information

The Parks & Recreation Department solicited proposals from qualified vendors to provide and install playground surfacing with pricing information for the total project. This approach was taken as all vendors have different types of product and installation methods used to apply their product. Three companies responded with the following proposals:

VENDOR	PRIMARY BASE BID
ECOTURF Surfacing a division of Taylormade Co	$58,064.00
Playscapes	$70,400.00
Fry & Associates	$83,194.00

Staff Recommendation

All of the companies submitting proposals met the basic criteria for proper playground surfacing. After making field inspections of work done by the companies, staff recommends accepting the proposal submitted by ECOTURF Surfacing for $58,064.00. The product submitted by ECOTURF demonstrated a high degree of wear tolerance, at the locations that were visited, and provided the best pricing to complete the project. It is anticipated work will be completed by October of 2016

Action Requested

Accept the proposal submitted by ECOTURF Surfacing, a division of Taylormade Co, for $58,064.00 for installation of poured-in-place rubber playground surfacing at Holcom Park and Centennial Park.