Medford council OKs $50,000 to finish playground project

The second phase of the Our Village accessible playground project in the Medford City Park took a major step from the drawing board to reality on Monday night.

At the Medford City Council committee of the whole meeting, members voted to approve up to $50,000 in funding for the project.

The first half of the all inclusive playground project was completed in 2019. It includes accessible equipment and a surface that allows people with mobility issues to use it.

Organizer Joseph Greget who has led the playground project noted that not only has it allowed children with special needs access, but has opened it for grandparents and others with mobility issues to enjoy the space.

The second phase of the project includes the south side of the tunnel that connects the two playground areas. The second phase features the same sort of accessible surface and will include replacement of the playground equipment, the primary focal point being a large pirate-ship themed climber.

The community committee had been raising funds for the past three years for the project and has so far raised just over $230,000 of the approximately $278,500 needed to get the project completed. In addition, the committee worked with Lee Recreation to reconfigure the playground space to reduce the amount of surfacing needed while maintaining the number of playground features. “We have tried to be as fiscally responsible as possible,” Greget said.

City coordinator Joe Harris came to the council asking for the city to contribute the remainder of the money needed to get the project completed. He noted that the dinosaur in the existing playground would remain since it had been donated by a local family. He said the city will create a sandbox area outside of the inclusive space that will hold the dinosaur and a digger toy.

The rest of the existing equipment will be relocated to develop a new playground and park space on Pep’s Drive to serve residents in that area of the city.

Greget noted that the committee has held 90 different fundraising events and had gotten support from many area businesses and families. “It is not just for our special friends, but for all our friends,” Greget said of the playground project.

Council member Mike Bub made the motion to approve up to $50,000, noting that while the amount remaining is $47,757 sometimes there are unknown things that come up.

The recommendation from the committee of the whole will be finalized at the February 24 city council meeting. When approved there, it will open the door for construction of the playground to begin in May with the goal of having a grand opening during the Summer Solstice event in the park in late June.

In other business, committee members: Recommended approving the low bid from Francis Melvin Inc. of $476,257.67 for the Musky Court project and the installation of sanitary sewer main for the future subdivision off of Pep’s Drive. Melvin’s bid was the lowest of three received with Haas Sons bid of $551,269 and Switlick and Son bidding $622,961.20. The sewer project on Pep’s Drive is $96,400.12 of the total and will be paid for from Tax Incremental District No. 14 as a TID project.

Received the annual report from Medford City Baseball over use of the city park ball diamonds. The city leases the space to Medford City Baseball and Butch Weigel gave the report to the city noting they have made improvements including getting a grass infield and internet to the field. He noted the sprinkler system for the field can be controlled with an application which allows them to adjust the watering based on weather conditions. He said the goals for the future are to get a new scoreboard on the south field, noting the cost is about $12,000. He said they are looking forward to the Medford Moondogs playing on the fields this summer. Last year games were relocated due to the sod not having taken in the spring which would have created potentially unsafe conditions, by fall that had been addressed.

Received the year in review from the Medford Area Development Foundation about the activities from the Chamber staff and tourism.