Cheaper option found for Diekroeger playground, but complications still stall decisions

Adam Rollins, Staff Writer
Posted 4/27/22

After balking at part of the cost of installing new donated playground equipment at Diekroeger Park, Wright City officials have found an option they believe is superior in both price and long-term …

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Cheaper option found for Diekroeger playground, but complications still stall decisions

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After balking at part of the cost of installing new donated playground equipment at Diekroeger Park, Wright City officials have found an option they believe is superior in both price and long-term maintenance.

The city last year received a donation of lightly used playground equipment valued at $175,000. The city has had the playground pieces in storage while making plans to replace the existing playground at Diekroeger.

To install the playground, the city also has to adjust the lay of the underlying soil and water drainage paths, as well as adding a layer of concrete topped by a soft surface around the new playground equipment. The city aims to have a rubberized surface which is handicap accessible.

The city is currently seeking an engineer to plan the dirt work, and aldermen in March postponed a contract for rubberized surfacing because the best bid at the time was $102,000.

During a followup discussion on April 14, City Clerk Abbie Ogborn said city staff had found a new company which could provide concrete foundation and a rubberized surface for only $74,000. The company, SofSurfaces, offers premanufactured interlocking tiles as playground surfacing, which saves cost over other rubbler-like material that has to be poured by specialized professionals.

In addition to the price advantage, Ogborn said each tile is replaceable once installed, meaning repairing damage to the surfacing would be relatively simple compared to other options. She added that the company offers a partial warranty with no expiration.

City sports director Eric Burton said he thinks SofSurfaces offers the best option for the new playground, and that city staff would be comfortable maintaining the surface with spare tiles that the company would provide at no additional charge.

SofSurfaces also offers an extended payment plan the would allow for the city to pay over time with no interest fees, which was a particularly attractive feature for city aldermen who have to work the project into the city’s overall budget.

“This is the fourth or fifth bid we’ve gotten on this project, and in my opinion this is the best bid,” said Alderman Ramiz Hakim.

But there’s a hitch

Before the soft surface can be installed, the actual playground needs to be set into the ground. And before that can happen, the underlying dirt work needs to be done, which first requires an engineer to determine the appropriate soil grade and drainage layout.

Alderman Nathan Rohr, who works in construction, advised that the city could arrange a contract with SofSurfaces, but shouldn’t order any tiles until the engineering and plans for dirt work are further along.

City Administrator Jim Schuchmann said he has reached out to two potential engineering firms — Cochran Engineering and Byrne & Jones.

One of those firms, Byrne & Jones, has complicated the conversation by offering to provide every aspect of the playground installation — engineering and grading, old playground removal, new playground installation, concrete foundation and soft surfacing. Schuchmann said a company representative was gathering information to provide a price quote.

Noting that the price quote from SofSurface was good for 60 days, and that any surfacing already has to wait for the other steps of the project, aldermen put another hold on their decision. They plan to revisit the project again during their April 28 public meeting.

Diekroeger Park, Playground, Wright City Board of Aldermen

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