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CITY OF GLENDALE, CALIFORNIA
REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
AGENDA ITEM
Report: Elk Mini Park Playground Replacement Project
1. Motion to approve the final design for the Elk Mini Park playground.
2. Resolution to dispense with competitive bidding for the purchase of playground equipment and authorizing the Deputy Director of Finance – Purchasing or a designee to execute a Purchase Order with Great Western Recreation for the Elk Mini Park Playground Replacement Project in the amount of $369,839.00, plus a 5% contingency of $18,491.95, for a total amount not to exceed $388,330.95.
COUNCIL ACTION
Item Type: Action Item
Approved for November 18, 2025 calendar
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Elk Mini Park Playground Replacement Project aims to upgrade the existing playground, originally installed in 2004. The new design, integrated into a roughly 1,444 square foot play area, will feature modern play equipment with enhanced accessibility, expanded sensory and imaginative play opportunities, and a new poured-in-place (PIP) safety surface. Integrated shade structures will also be included to improve comfort and usability for park visitors.
To develop design concepts, CSP staff partnered with two vendors – Landscape Structures, Inc. and Great Western Recreation – to create four unique playground design options. Community input was gathered through an online survey available in English, Armenian, and Spanish, which was open to the public from October 3 to October 17, 2025.
The City is utilizing CDBG funds for the Elk Mini Park playground replacement project.
Additionally, staff partnered with Great Western Recreation as a result of successfully receiving funds through the 2025 California Parks and Recreation Society (CPRS) Statewide Healthy Play Funding Initiative so that Elk may become a National Demonstration Site and utilize a Play On! playground design, which promotes physical activity and fitness through active play (Exhibit 4), and receives a roughly 10% discount.
To complete project delivery, staff proposes using a national cooperative purchasing 9d2
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organization’s —OMNIA Partners— cooperative contracting process, ensuring contract compliance with public purchasing laws, efficiency with the procurement process, and best value.
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the City Council approve the design, purchase, and installation of the Elk Mini Park playground replacement in the amount of $369,839.00, plus a 5% contingency; and dispense with competitive bidding and authorize the Deputy Director of Finance – Purchasing, or a designee, to execute a purchase order with Great Western Recreation for playground equipment and site improvements.
ANALYSIS
In an ongoing effort by the Community Services & Parks Department (CSP) to provide safe recreational opportunities, facilities, and amenities, CSP is proposing to replace the outdated playground, originally installed in 2004. The new design will feature modern play equipment with enhanced accessibility, expanded sensory and imaginative play opportunities, and a new poured-in-place (PIP) safety surface. Integrated shade structures will also be included to improve comfort and usability for park visitors.
Additional site improvements anticipated include replacement of multiple park tables and benches and landscaping enhancements.
CSP recommends that the City Council dispense with the traditional bidding process as set forth in Glendale Municipal Code (GMC) Section 4.12.010(A)(1) and 4.12.010(A)(3), and authorize the Deputy Director of Finance – Purchasing, or a designee, to execute a purchase order with Great Western Recreation for playground equipment and site improvements. This process will result in quicker replacement of the aging playground and allow for the implementation of the community-preferred design.
This playground replacement project is budgeted at $400,000 for design and development through CDBG funds. Additionally, staff partnered with Great Western Recreation as a result of successfully receiving funds in the form of a 10% grant discount through the 2025 California Parks and Recreation Society (CPRS) Statewide Healthy Play Funding Initiative so that Elk may become a National Demonstration Site and utilize a Play On! playground design, which promotes physical activity and fitness through active play.
Community Engagement and Outreach
The Department promoted the Playground Replacement Community Survey through its October 2025 newsletter, social media platforms, and outreach posters displayed at Elk Mini Park. The posters showcased the four design options and directed community members to the online survey (Exhibit 1).
Each of the four proposed designs (“Bear Cub Hideout,” “Lilypad Landing,” “Mother Tree Grove,” “Wild Grove Woods”) offered a variety of themed play experiences, sensory features, mobility-friendly elements, and creative shade solutions. Survey participants 9d3
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were asked to select their preferred design and provide additional comments. The survey was open to the public from October 3 to October 17, 2025, and available in English, Armenian, and Spanish.
A total of 98 responses were received (Exhibit 1). Great Western Recreation’s “Mother Tree Grove” (Exhibit 2) design received the most support, with 75.51% of the votes.
Feedback was positive, with many respondents highlighting the design’s creativity, shade, and nature-based theme.
The “Mother Tree Grove” design showcases a custom nature-themed play structure for ages 2–5, centered around a landmark Mother Tree. The space includes playful elements like lumberjack steps, a life-sized inchworm, a spinning leaf seat, a log balance beam, and a vibrant PIP surface featuring flowers and lilypads. As a response to community feedback and parental requests throughout CSP playground replacement projects, five 10’ x 10’ umbrella canopies have been integrated to provide shade throughout the area. At ground level, a variety of interactive play panels offer educational and sensory experiences, including Sounds of Water, Nature Find Me, Musical Composer, and a Frog Slide Puzzle (Exhibit 3).
Great Western Recreation
Great Western Recreation represents GameTime, a leading maker of inclusive, research-based playground equipment designed to support physical, social, and emotional development for all ages and abilities. Their PlayOn! program, developed with SHAPE America, offers 125 standards-based activities focused on six key play elements to promote physical activity and reduce childhood obesity.
GameTime emphasizes universal accessibility, multi-generational play, and sustainable design using recycled, durable materials that support LEED certification and environmental responsibility.
Staff recommends approval for the community-selected “Mother Tree Grove” design by GameTime for the Elk Mini Park Playground Replacement Project. This selection would allow the use of Healthy Play Initiative funding for implementation.
Cost Breakdown:
The estimated total cost for the community-preferred playground replacement for Elk Mini Park is $369,839, including demolition and recycling/disposal of the existing equipment, the purchase and installation of new equipment, poured in place rubberized safety surfacing, and shade elements, plus 5% contingency.
Following a site assessment, staff identified the need for additional improvements at Elk Mini Park to address the condition of existing furniture and landscaping. A new drinking fountain, site tables and benches, and landscaping enhancements will be planned and procured for the site as part of the project for a total cost of $11,669.05 9d4
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($9,048.16+$1,500+$1,120.89). These enhancements will improve the park’s visual appeal and long-term usability and are intended to enhance the visitor experience of this neighborhood park.
See cost breakdown below:
Elk Mini Playground Replacement
Products (Playground, 5 Shade Elements) $ 225,972.47
Surfacing $ 55,417.88
Sitework & Installation $ 90,994.94
Freight & Tax $ 30,331.36
Payment & Performance Bond $ 5,840.00
Statewide Initiative Funding Discount $ (38,717.65)
Total Net Cost $ 369,839.00
5% Construction Contingency $ 18,491.95
Site Furniture + Landscape Improvements $ 9,048.16 CPSI Inspection $ 1,500.00
Signage (Funder + City Regulatory) $ 1,120.89
Total Project Cost $ 400,000.00
Because this playground design was the community’s preferred choice and Great Western Recreation/GameTime is an OMNIA Partners-registered supplier, staff recommends proceeding with the OMNIA cooperative contracting process without further competitive bidding. OMNIA Partners uses a “lead agency” model where a public agency competitively solicits and awards a master cooperative contract, allowing member organizations (the City has been a registered member of OMNIA Partners since 2012) to use pre-negotiated master contracts to purchase goods and services without having to conduct their own bids, and ensures contract compliance with public purchasing laws, efficiency with procurement process, and best value.
STAKEHOLDERS/OUTREACH
The new playground design for Elk Mini Park, prepared by Great Western Recreation, meet the requests and preferences of the Glendale community. The engagement process, consisting of a public online survey (Exhibit 1), provided the public with four (4) unique playground design concepts to consider for their community.
The public voted in favor of Great Western Recreation’s “Mother Tree Grove” for Elk Mini Park (Exhibit 2), which was presented to the Parks, Recreation, and Community Services Commission for its review and recommendation to the City Council for approval. The Parks, Recreation, and Community Services Commission was in support of and approved the recommendation of the community-preferred custom designs proposed by Great Western Recreation at the October 22, 2025, Special Commission Meeting.
FISCAL IMPACT
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The playground replacement project at Elk Mini Park will cost $369,839, with an additional 5% contingency, for a total not-to-exceed amount of $388,330.95. Additional site improvements in the amount of $11,669.05 include signage, site furniture, and landscape improvements, for a total project budget of $400,000.
Funding in the amount of $400,000, as approved by City Council, is currently available as follows:
Existing Appropriation
Amount Account String Funding Source
$400,000 GL: 52100-2010-CSP-0020-P0000
PL: CSP01432AG
CDBG
Department Cost Center Program
Community
Services &
Parks
Projects
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW (CEQA/NEPA)
The activity under consideration is categorically exempt either as a Class 1 project pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15301, which consists, among other things, of the operation, repair, maintenance, or minor alteration of existing public structures, facilities, or topographical features, involving negligible or no expansion of former use; or, in the alternative, as a Class 2 project pursuant to section 15302, which consists, among other things, of the replacement of existing structures and facilities where the new structure will be located on the same site as the structure replaced and will have substantially the same purpose and capacity as the structure replaced. In any event, it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the activity in question may have a significant effect on the environment; thus, it is exempt from CEQA pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15061(b)(3).
CAMPAIGN DISCLOSURE
The names and business addresses of the members of the board of directors, the chairperson, CEO, COO, CFO, Subcontractors and any person or entity with more than 10% interest in the company proposed for contract in this Agenda Item Report are attached in Exhibit 4, in accordance with the City Campaign Finance Ordinance No. 5744.
ALTERNATIVES TO STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Alternative 1: Direct CSP to use the traditional bidding process for equipment, installation, and site improvements at Elk Mini Park. Traditional bidding would extend the bidding schedule and risk additional delays for design and scoping by a consultant. Additionally, this process could limit design options and forgo community-preferred playgrounds.
Alternative 2: The City Council may consider any other alternative not proposed by staff. 9d6
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ADMINISTRATIVE ACTION
Submitted by:
Onnig Bulanikian, Director of Community Services & Parks Prepared by:
Joseph Gonzalez, Park Planner
Cindy Camberos, Assistant Project Manager
Approved by:
Roubik R. Golanian, P.E., City Manager
EXHIBITS/ATTACHMENTS
Exhibit 1: Survey Results
Exhibit 2: Elk Mini Park Playground Final Design
Exhibit 3: Great Western Recreation Product Information Exhibit 4: CPRS NDS Recognition
Exhibit 5: Campaign Finance Ordinance Form