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RESOLUTION R-1920-113: A RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORMAN, OKLAHOMA, APPROPRIATING $150,000 FROM THE COMMUNITY PARK LAND FUND BALANCE FOR IMPROVEMENTS TO THE RUBY GRANT PARK INCLUSIVE PLAYGROUND.
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BACKGROUND: In 1994, the City of Norman began collecting park development fees in the amount of $150 for every new residential building permit. The $150 fee is apportioned $75 to community park development and $75 to neighborhood park development. The neighborhood park portion of the fees must be spent on the neighborhood park in the area from which they were collected. The community park portion may be expended only at any of the six community parks (Andrews, Griffin, Reaves, Sutton, Saxon and Ruby Grant). There is a current balance of approximately $182,000 in the Community Park Development account that is available for allocation at this time.
On October 13, 2015, Norman citizens passed the Norman Forward Initiative; which will fund various projects through a ½ % sales tax increase over 15 years. Included in the Norman Forward Initiative is a project to design and construct the first phase of Ruby Grant Community Park. The design services were awarded to Howell & VanCuren, Landscape Architects (Howell); and the construction management was awarded to Crossland Construction. The park will include Norman’s first all-inclusive playground designed for kids with many types of disabilities. The NORMAN FORWARD project funding itemized $400,000 for the playground; however, we have worked with our design team to create a $600,000 playground. The playground vendor has been working with our staff, Howell and Crossland from the beginning of the process to coordinate fund-raising efforts in Norman to allow community members to “buy-into” this project via donations to sponsor one or more areas or pieces of equipment at the playground, with a goal of $200,000 in donations. A fundraising effort was started in January of this year, with an initial response of $50,000 donated to the project. Since then, the Covid-19 Pandemic has interrupted all fundraising efforts.
Construction has continued at the park, with an estimated park completion and grand opening scheduled for November of this year. In order to stay on-track with construction, the playground equipment needs to be ordered by the end of May. To do this, we need to secure the total project funding ($600,000), which will allow the entire project to be ordered and ready for construction.
DISCUSSION: At this time, staff is recommending the appropriation of Community Park Land Development funds for Ruby Grant Park in order to pay the remainder of the total costs associated with the full construction of the inclusive playground at the park. Our plan is to continue fundraising efforts as soon as possible until the $200,000 goal is achieved. Any future contributions from this effort will be used to reimburse the Community Park Land Fund balance used for this project. Rather than reduce the size and scope of this part of the overall project, we feel it is best to order the full package now, in order to be ready for the grand opening of the park this fall.
RECOMMENDATION: It is recommended that the City Council approve Resolution R-1920-113, appropriating $150,000 from the Community Park Land Fund Balance (Account 052-0000-253.20-00) to the NORMAN FORWARD Ruby Grant Park Improvements (Account 51793325-46101; Project NFP105) for park improvements described above at Ruby Grant Park.