October 22, 2025 City Council Meeting

TL;DR

The city council held a study session to discuss citywide park improvements, focusing on two major playground projects. Staff presented options for replacing the aging and non-ADA compliant Kids Space playground at Ree Park, with council members favoring a new community-built structure. Discussions also covered the frequently flooded Lions Park playground, where a temporary fix with long-term relocation planning was preferred.

Key Decisions & Votes

Kids Space Playground Replacement

18:00

The council expressed a strong preference for a new build of the Kids Space playground at Ree Park, utilizing a community build option to save costs. The new structure should use modern, durable materials, incorporate ADA accessibility, and maintain the original castle-like theme. Staff was directed to firm up numbers and design parameters.

Direction Given

Lions Park Playground Repair and Future Planning

32:00

For Lions Park, the council favored the immediate option of replacing the flooded turf surface with a poured-in-place material at the current location to reopen the playground quickly. Staff was also directed to pursue reclassification of Lions Park as a community park to unlock more funding and to plan for a long-term solution, potentially including relocation, in future Norman Forward initiatives.

Direction Given

Financial Matters

Kids Space Renovation

Estimated cost to renovate the existing Kids Space playground, extending its life by 5-8 years.

$365,000

Kids Space Community Build

Estimated cost for a new Kids Space playground built with community labor, saving on labor costs.

$600,000-$650,000

Kids Space New Contractor Build

Estimated cost for a completely new Kids Space playground built by a contractor.

$900,000-$1,000,000

Lions Park Playground Relocation

Estimated cost to relocate the Lions Park playground uphill, requiring construction of a plateau and compensatory water storage.

$300,000

Lions Park Poured-in-Place Surface

Estimated cost to replace the turf surface with poured-in-place material at the current Lions Park playground location.

$100,000

TET Grant Funding

Potential grant funding from TET for playground projects, with an automatic $100,000 and eligibility to apply for an additional $150,000.

$100,000 (automatic) + $150,000 (eligible)

Park Connection Fees / Parkland Dedication

Discussion about increasing park connection fees (currently $150 per residential unit) and potentially expanding them to commercial properties to grow the parkland development fund.

$150 per unit (currently)

Coming Up

Watch For

Norman Forward 2 vote for long-term park funding
Budget kickoff for new funding requests
Re-evaluation of other neighborhood playgrounds in FY28
Andrews Park master plan geobond question
Discussion on increasing park connection fees/parkland dedication
Blue Stand Park and South Lake Park openings

Announcements

Northeast Lions, Eagle Cliff, and Sutton Place playground replacement projects are scheduled for FY26.
Oak Creek South, Kiwanas, Spring Brook, and Chism Cattle Trail playgrounds are scheduled for replacement in FY27.
Alliance, Memorial, and Normandy playgrounds are scheduled for replacement in FY28.
New hotel rooms permitted off Rock Creek and 24th Northwest are expected to grow Hotel Motel tax revenue.
Blue Stand Park and South Lake Park are new parks being built with separate budgets.

Agenda Summary

Discussion regarding park improvements

A discussion regarding citywide park improvements, with specific focus on playgrounds at Ree Park (Kids Space) and Lions Park.

Information Only

Meeting Summary