CITY OF CYPRESS & CYPRESS RECREATION AND PARK DISTRICT
PLAYGROUND DESIGN STANDARDS
INTRODUCTION
The City of Cypress (City) and Cypress Recreation and Park District (District) owns and/or operates 22 park sites with approximately 100 acres of open space and recreational facilities. Cypress’ park system includes community parks, neighborhood parks, and mini parks.
Although public parks are typical locations for playgrounds, playgrounds can also be installed at schools, churches, day care centers, restaurants, and homeowner association recreational facilities (private parks). The goal of the Playground Design Standards is to develop a common approach to the design of children’s play areas to ensure safety is a top priority. All new outdoor, publicly accessible playgrounds in the City of Cypress are subject to these Playground Design Standards and all safety regulations adopted by the state of California. Replacement of existing playground equipment and play structures shall comply with these Playground Design Standards to the maximum extent feasible.
REQUIREMENTS FOR PLAYGROUNDS
1. The following conditions shall be placed on the development of all new playgrounds:
Prior to the issuance of building permits, the applicant shall submit to the Director of Public Works and the Director of Recreation and Community Services, or their designee, for review and approval, a Playground Plan that includes detailed playground specifications for manufactured play equipment. The plan shall depict safety fall zones and include a site plan, safety surfacing materials, construction specifications, manufacturer and model numbers of equipment, equipment color and materials, and equipment deck heights.
Prior to final acceptance and approval of the playground installation by the Public Works Department, the applicant shall submit a letter to the Public Works Department certifying that the play equipment installation has been inspected and certified by a qualified inspector authorized by the manufacturer, that the equipment has been installed per manufacturer’s specifications, and that it complies with the minimum playground safety regulations adopted by the State of California (California Health Code, Title 22, Division 4, Chapter 22 “Safety Regulations for Playgrounds,” Article 1-4).
2. All safety surfacing in playgrounds shall comply with the minimum safety standards in ASTM F 1292- “Standard Specification for Impact Attenuation of Surface Systems Under and Around Playground Equipment.”
3. Accessible safety surfacing shall comply with the minimum accessibility standards in ASTM F 1951 “Standard Specification for Determination of Accessibility of Surface Systems Under and Around Playground Equipment.” Testing information may be requested.
City of Cypress - Playground Design Standards
4. Specific information included in the Playground Plan submittal shall be:
To scale diagram of playground layout, no smaller than 1” = 20’. Dimensioned safety use zones around each piece of equipment, per manufacturer’s specifications.
Model number of each piece of equipment. Specifications for play equipment may be requested.
Name, address, and contact phone number of equipment manufacturer(s). Name, address, and contact phone number of safety surfacing manufacturer(s). Deck, platform and step heights for each component.
Type of each play component.
Location of ADA compliant path of travel and access point to the equipment (transfer platform). Provide a chart comparing the required number of accessible play components and the number of proposed accessible play components. For the minimum number of required play components to be ADA complaint, refer to the U. S. Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board (Access Board) A Guide to the ADA Accessibility Guidelines for Play Areas (available from http://www.access-board.gov).
Details on installation of safety surfacing, including section view with minimum depth of safety surfacing and type of surfacing.
Method of drainage of safety surfacing.
Age group that the play equipment is designed for.
CHILDREN’S PLAY AREA CONSIDERATIONS
Spatial Considerations
Children’s play areas fall into two age group classifications: Pre-school age children of two to five (2-5) years, and school age children ages five to twelve (5-12) years. Each age group category must have a distinctly different space with required separations. Pre-school age children play areas, often referred to as tot lots, should have a suggested area of 600 to 2,500 s.f., and should be designed for pre-school age children of two to five (2-5) years of age, and have a recommended maximum deck height of forty-eight inches (48”).
School age children play areas should have a suggested area of 1,600 to 5,000 s.f., and should be designed for five to twelve (5-12) years of age and have deck heights ranging upwards of six feet (6’).
Composite play areas that serve children of both two to five (2-5) years and five to twelve (5-12) years should have a suggested area of 2,200 to 7,500 s.f. with functionally separate play structures.
City of Cypress - Playground Design Standards
In single composite play areas that service children of both two to five (2-5) years and five to twelve (5-12) years, provide space and/or a barrier to separate the two age groups and ensure that play patterns do not interfere with one another. Play areas should be designed with safety in mind and follow the following criteria.
o Maintain one hundred and fifty (150’) from vehicular travel or provide a fortytwo to forty-eight inch (42”-48”) high fence to separate children and vehicular traffic.
o Maintain a minimum distance of fifty feet (50’) between children’s play areas and athletic facilities or provide adequate fencing.
o Maintain one hundred feet (100’) from active recreation areas (i.e. sport courts) or provide adequate fencing.
o Play areas should include shaded seating for parental supervision such as benches under tree canopies, shade sails, or in close proximity to group picnic areas.
o Develop playgrounds that provide enhancement of children's total developmental needs, including physical, social, creative, reflective and tactile experiences.
o Linkage of play areas to open space is desirable.
o Develop natural barriers or features to segregate play areas from conflicting or incompatible uses.
o Provide unobstructed lines of sight between separate play areas for ease of supervision.
o Provide shade structures that are free-standing or attached to the play structures that cover 50% of the play area.
o If restrooms are proposed, restrooms must be in a clear line of sight from play areas and should be within one-hundred feet (100’) of play area. o Provide ADA-compliant water fountains in close proximity to play areas. o Drinking fountains should be visible from play areas. o Design facilities to permit use by the physically disabled by providing ground play opportunities, transfer points to elevated play, and accessible ramps. o Scale equipment and apparatus to the size of the intended users. o Provide irrigation quick-couplers outside the perimeter of play areas. The distance between quick couplers should be fifty feet (50’), as practicable.
City of Cypress - Playground Design Standards
Layout
Provide age designation signage at the entrance of each play area that states the age appropriateness of the play equipment and recommendations for adult supervision.
Provide an ADA-compliant access ramp near the play equipment transfer deck per the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) Guidelines. Provide a zero-inch curb face between the finished surface of poured-in-place surfacing and the top of adjacent play area curb.
Orient the swing area away from the active play area to avoid conflicts in play circulation. Swings can be either visually or physically separated from the active play area.
Provide an additional two feet (2’) between the required fall zone of a play component and the play area containment edge.
Equipment layout including fall zones must follow current CA State Law AB1144 Harmon, ADA regulations, Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) Guidelines, and ASTM.
All sump drain systems shall be designed by a licensed Civil Engineer in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations, applicable geotechnical reports, City Standard Details, and supporting technical documentation, subject to review and approval by the City Engineer.
All play structure footings shall be designed by a licensed Civil Engineer in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations, with a minimum footing size of eighteen inches (18") in diameter by three feet (3’) deep, and submitted for review and approval by the City Engineer. Where non-standard manufacturer footings are required, the concrete volume shall be increased by one and one-half (1.5) times while maintaining the minimum three-foot (3’) depth. All posts shall extend to the bottom of the footing with a minimum three-inch (3") concrete clearance on all sides and include an approved anchoring mechanism, as approved by the City Engineer. Curbs and ramps should all be as per City Standard Details.
Equipment
The City must approve colors of the play components.
Playground equipment and design must meet current U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) guidelines and standards as set forth in the Handbook for Public Playground Safety, as intended by SB 2733, and updated as per AB 1144 (Harmon), and must meet or exceed ASTM standards.
Playground design must comply with the latest requirements of ADA for public agencies, which include accessible elevated, and ground level events. As a rule, play equipment must be from the standard manufacturer’s equipment.
However, different equipment may be installed as approved by the City.
City of Cypress - Playground Design Standards
Alternative play equipment such as climbing boulders or concrete animal sculptures may be used as approved by the City.
Playground equipment components should be specified of durable construction with:
o Five inch (5”) primary post size minimum.
o UV stabilized rotomold polyethylene.
o All plastic components should be constructed with UV inhibitors for longevity.
o Hardware should be of an uncommon head type or have an insert/cover for vandal deterrent purposes.
o Ropes should be constructed of nylon with a steel core. The design and equipment should include a variety of play elements that encourage:
o Swinging
o Spinning
o Hand over hand and side to side climbing
o Balance challenges
o Overhead activities
o Sliding
o Sensory development
o Crawling
o Imagination
o Adventure
The City and District encourages unique innovative designs that provide increased play value.
Play equipment design should consider durability and the long-term maintenance requirements of the specific equipment, as well as the potential for vandalism and graffiti.
All playgrounds shall have nighttime security lighting to prevent vandalism. All proposed play equipment is expected to be in place for a minimum of twenty (20) years.
Wooden play equipment is not allowed.
Swings should be provided as a standard element in all play areas. Play area themes may be considered where the budget is not adversely affected by the introduction of custom designed elements.
City of Cypress - Playground Design Standards
Surfacing
Engineered wood fiber safety surfacing is not allowed. Poured in place, rubberized safety surfacing (no tiles) shall be used in the portions of the playground intended to be accessible to person with disabilities.
Poured-in-place rubberized safety surfacing shall meet the following requirements in order to improve the durability and minimize replacement and/or repair costs:
o Minimum 5 year warranty on material and installation. o Binder used for the surfacing shall be aliphatic type or superior. o A protective coat/sealant shall be provided as part of the initial installation to help protect the surface from elements.
The poured-in-place surfaces should be designed to:
o Minimize the amount of poured-in-place surfaces except for areas required by ADA accessibility and safety fall zones compliance.
o Adjust the depth of the subsurface and softness of the poured-in-place to the needs of the play equipment. Minimize the depth/softness outside of the fall zones in order to minimize wear and tear of the surface. o Use a combination of standardized colors (such as 25% black, 25% green, and 50% tan), rather than a single solid color, so that color mixtures can be adjusted to match faded colors in the future for patching and repairs. o If the surface has shapes or patterns, use simple geometric shapes that are easy to patch. Avoid any patterns or shapes under high-traffic areas like swings and the base of slides since these areas are patched frequently. - end -
Park Type Typical Size Service Area Typical Facilties
Community 10 acres 1 to 1 1/2 miles
Athletic fields, picnic area,
community centers
Neighborhood 3 to 5 acres 1/2 mile
Tot lots, public facilities,
multi-use court
Mini Less than 1 acre 1/4 mile Tot lot, open space
Park Acres Number of Playgrounds
Arnold Cypress Park 14.55 1
Lexington Park 8.80 1
Oak Knoll Park 22.00 2
Baroldi Sycamore Park 1.50 1
Cedar Glen Park 2.54 1
Civic Center Green/Tennis 3.65 0
Darrell Essex Park 2.50 1
Eucalyptus Park 2.50 1
Evergreen Park 5.06 1
Hettinga / Manzanitia Park 4.04 1
Mackay Park 2.90 1
Maple Grove North Park 3.14 1
Maple Grove South Park 1.87 1
Nature Park 5.75 1
Peppertree Park 2.61 1
Pinewood Park 2.40 1
Rosen / Acacia Park 1.00 1
Veterans Park 6.40 1
Willow Park 2.90 1
Damron Park 0.45 1
Laurel Park 0.17 0
Vessels Park 0.60 1
Cypress Recreation and Park District
Neighborhood Parks
Community Parks
Mini Parks
The Cypress Recreation and Park District operates 22 park sites encompassing approximately 97 acres The City classifies parks as community, neighborhood, or mini facilities based on size. Each park classification has a general area of service and typical park facilities as described below.
Existing Park Facilities
CITY OF CYPRESS
CITY COUNCIL REPORT
City Council Regular 10.
FROM: Jeff Draper, Director of Recreation and Community Services DATE: 09/08/2026
SUBJECT: Baroldi Sycamore Park Outreach Efforts
RECOMMENDATION
Receive and file the Baroldi Sycamore Park outreach results.
DISCUSSION
In May 2026, the City Council awarded a contract to MIG for Public Engagement and Professional Design Services for the Baroldi Sycamore Park Expansion. The contract consisted of four phases to be completed before construction could take place. The four phases include:
Phase 1: Project Initiation and Site Assessment
Phase 2: Community Outreach and Concept Development
Phase 3: Master Planning
Phase 4: Final Design and Construction Documents
The Baroldi Sycamore Park Expansion is in the first half of phase 2 with MIG facilitating two in-person community outreach events and conducting an online survey to obtain community input to help guide the future design of the park.
The outreach included the July 10 Concert on the Green, where 35 people provided feedback, and a community meeting at Baroldi Sycamore Park on August 4, which had more than 60 people in attendance. An online survey was also conducted from July 30 through August 12, with approximately 211 participants. Outreach efforts were promoted through the City's website, social media, and direct mailers to more than 500 residences in the vicinity of the park.
Overall, the outreach demonstrated support for expanding the park while maintaining its existing neighborhood character. The three strongest themes were shade, walking paths, and green space.
Additional common themes included preserving mature trees, providing family-oriented and flexible recreational opportunities, and addressing safety, cleanliness and accessibility. The primary areas of differing opinion involved parking and restrooms, with nearby residents expressing greater concerns about increased activity, traffic and neighborhood parking, while participants traveling farther generally placed greater value on restrooms.
As part of Phase 2, MIG presented the outreach results to the Recreation and Community Services Commission on August 18, 2026, who provided comments and feedback regarding the community input and priorities identified through the outreach process. MIG is now seeking input from the City Council before entering the second half of Phase 2 with the development of conceptual site plans.
Unless otherwise directed, based on the outreach results, Recreation and Community Services Commission’s feedback, and input from City Council, MIG will continue with the second half of Phase 2 and develop three conceptual site plans that incorporate the community's priorities while exploring different approaches to parking, restrooms and recreational amenities. The overall goal is to use the new acreage to enhance the neighborhood park experience, while preserving the qualities the community already values at Baroldi Sycamore Park.
After development of the concept plans, the plans will be posted online for community feedback and MIG will present the concepts to the Recreation and Community Services Commission and City Council for review and direction on a preferred concept plan before moving to Phase 3 of the project.
BUDGET IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact associated with receiving and filing the community outreach results.
LEGAL REVIEW
The City Attorney has reviewed this staff report.
APPROVED BY: Shannon DeLong, City Manager
Attachments
Summary of Outreach Efforts.
MIG Scope of Services
Baroldi Sycamore Park Expansion Project
Community Engagement and Outreach Summary
Overall Summary of Findings
Baroldi Sycamore Park Expansion Project
Community Engagement and Outreach Summary
Overall Summary of Findings
• A Neighborhood Park First
• Shade and Trees and Green Space
• Walking and Connectivity
• Family-Oriented and Flexible Recreation
• Safety and Security
• Parking and Restrooms – Different Perspectives
• Sports Facilities vs. Non-Sports Uses
Baroldi Sycamore Park Expansion Project
Community Engagement and Outreach Summary
Overall Summary of Findings
The three strongest common themes
communicated in the findings were a desire for:
– Shade (67%)
– Walking paths (58%)
– Green space (49%)
EXHIBIT “A”
SCOPE OF SERVICES
The Scope of Services will include the following:
Phase I: PROJECT INITIATION AND SITE ASSESSMENT
• Attend a project initiation meeting with City staff to confirm project goals, schedule, and communication protocols.
• Conduct site visit and field reconnaissance with City staff to document existing conditions and confirm opportunities and constraints of site.
• Perform site boundary survey and produce base topographic plan. Collect all pertinent data and information from City regarding the existing site improvements, City provided asbuilts, utilities, drainage, soils, environmental factors, design standards, input from City staff, past community input and any other information that may affect preparation of the Conceptual Site Plans, and Construction Documents.
• Coordinate with City departments and relevant agencies to understand regulatory requirements and potential design limitations.
Phase 1 Meetings:
• Project Initiation
• Site Visit
Phase 1 Deliverables:
• Alta/NSPS Boundary and Topographic Plan
• Existing Conditions Summary
Phase II: COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT
• Facilitate two (2) in-person public outreach community workshops, three (3) stakeholder meetings (two Commission meetings and one City Council meeting), and one online survey to collect input on desired park uses and features. MIG will provide printed outreach materials and will manage online survey platform. City will provide distribution of mailers/notices; MIG will prepare notices per City RFI. • Based on the community input, site review, staff input, and gathered information, MIG will develop three Conceptual Site Plans for the park, that will blend the new park space with the existing park. The concepts will include all elements and amenities as described in the RFP, but not limited to: passive recreation areas, ADA compliant prefabricated restroom building, parking lot with required ADA compliant spaces and access, and hardscape, landscaping, irrigation and lighting throughout the park. • Prepare a recommendations memorandum regarding site planning considerations including removal and/or reuse of the existing residential structure, parking layout, and restroom facility.
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• Present three Conceptual Site Plans to City staff, the Recreation and Community Services Commission, and the City Council for review for feedback and direction to inform the preferred Site Concept Plan.
• Based on City staff input and comments on the Conceptual Site Plans will refine the concepts into a single preferred Conceptual Site Plan with preliminary opinion of probable cost (OPC) for approval.
Phase 2 Meetings:
• 2 Community Outreach Meetings
• 3 Stakeholder Meetings
• Present three Conceptual Site Plans
Phase 2 Deliverables:
• Online Survey Results
• Conceptual Site Plans (3)
• Recommendations Memo
• Preferred Conceptual Site Plan with OPC
Phase III: MASTER PLANNING
• Prepare a detailed park master plan based on the approved preferred Conceptual Site Plan, including layout, amenities, grading, hardscape, landscape, irrigation, and sustainable design features.
• Incorporate green infrastructure and water quality measures into the design. • Develop a phasing plan for park improvements, updated OPC, and implementation strategies.
• Present final Master Plan to City staff, the Recreation Community Services Commission, and the City Council for final approval.
• To better communicate the proposed park elements and site lines of the final concept site plan, a series of static and dynamic visualization tools will be employed for this project.
This begins with a detailed digital model that will become the foundation for concept plan refinement. From that model, various views and angles can be explored to illustrate important considerations for proposed park elements. Those views will then be enhanced, using post processing techniques in supporting software platforms to better articulate the feeling and character of those spaces. Lastly, a fly-through animation will be produced to tell the complete story of the design of the park.
• Detailed Digital Model
• A detailed digital model, built in SketchUp, will be the foundation for all the rendering tasks. Differing styles and model elements can be used at different stages of the process to ensure graphic representation of the concept plan align with commensurate level of refinement. Key considerations for the functionality of the model will be based on the ability to interchange various proposed park elements with ease. • 3D Renderings and Photo Simulations
• Building from the digital model, a wide range of vantage points can be selected to illustrate the various aspects of the proposed park elements. Once key views, which best articulate 3 534942.6
the overall vision or highlight specific design elements, are selected, additional detail and refinement will be made in both SketchUp and supporting software platforms. • The digital model base can then be paired with photographs taken from the site to provide ‘before and after’ scenarios from which the view can highlight proposed user experiences. • Fly Through Animation
• Animation within the fly through will be implemented to better communicate the final look and feel of the park design. A lower-quality draft animation will first be produced to ensure that the story has been achieved, prior to completing the final animation.
Phase 3 Meetings:
• Present final Master Plan
Phase 3 Deliverables:
• Park Master Plan
• Phasing Plan and Strategies, Updated OPC
• 3d Color Renderings (5 renderings)
• One (1) Video Fly Through
Phase IV: FINAL DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION DOCUMENTS
• Based on the City approved site and architectural conceptual development plans and opinion of probable cost, MIG will prepare construction drawings and technical specifications for the proposed improvements in sufficient detail, for the City to approve and for contractor bidding. MIG will hold virtual bi-weekly coordination meetings with City staff during active design and PS&E phases. MIG will coordinate with geotechnical, environmental, and utility consultants as well as with existing utility providers (Golden State Water, Southern California Gas, Southern California Edison, etc.).
• Perform geotechnical soils testing and produce a report with recommendations for pavements, structures, and site improvements. The survey will identify suspect materials and provide documentation to inform demolition planning; however, it is not intended to be a comprehensive pre-demolition survey. Phase II Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) and any required Supplemental Pre-Demolition Survey will not be included in the base scope and shall be addressed during construction by the Contractor, as required. • Develop technical specifications for 60%, 90% and 100% construction document submittals. Specifications shall be coordinated with City of Cypress Brown Book specifications and Standard Specifications for Public Works Construction “Greenbook”. • Preparation of a Non-Priority Water Quality Management Plan (NP-WQMP). With the assumption that the site redevelopment will be less than 5,000 square feet of impervious area, a Non-Priority Water Quality Management Plan (NP-WQMP) will be prepared for the site.
• Assist with permitting and ensure compliance with applicable local, regional, state, and federal regulations. Permit fees and agency fees are excluded and shall be paid by the City.
MIG will include up to two (2) City permit submittal cycles as part of the Base Scope. • MIG will prepare complete PS&E package submittals at 30%, 60%, 90%, and 100% (final) stages. MIG will coordinate all disciplines and maintain a comment/response matrix to ensure all City and Construction Management Firm comments are fully addressed. 4 534942.6
Construction documents will be prepared using the City’s standard title block in AutoCAD 2022 and will be included:
• Title Sheet and General Notes
• Demolition Plan
• Grading, Drainage, and Utility Plans
• LID / BMP Plans (if applicable)
• Irrigation and Planting Plans
• Hardscape and Circulation Plans
• Amenities Plan and Layout
• Electrical and Lighting Plans
• Pre-Fabricated Restroom Building Plans
• Architectural Plans if Applicable
• Structural Plans (shelters/structures)
• Construction Details
• Develop opinion of probable construction costs (OPC) for 30%, 60%, 90% and 100% construction document submittals.
• Incorporate comments received from the 30%, 60%, 90%, and 100% review and meet with City staff and Construction Management Firm to review submittal comments.
Phase 4 Meetings:
• 30%, 60%, 90%, and 100% submittal comment review with City and Construction Management Firm (4 meetings)
• Bi-weekly coordination meetings with City staff during active design and PS&E phases (virtual unless otherwise requested) Up to a maximum of (12) meetings.
Phase 4 Deliverables:
• Geotechnical report
• Technical specifications for 60%, 90%, and 100% submittals • PS&E package for 30%, 60%, 90%, and 100% submittals
• Water Quality Management Plan
• Digital files of all documents listed above