Title
2026 Playground Renovations - Purchase and Installation
History
There are currently fifty-five (55) playgrounds and sixty-two (62) pavilions located in sixty-six (66) Village parks. According to the 2020 NRPA Agency Performance Review, which highlights characteristics of America’s local public park agencies, a community with a population range between 50,000 to 99,999 has on average one (1) playground for every 3,859 residents. With a population of roughly 60,000, the Village of Orland Park fares substantially better, with one (1) playground for every 1,111 residents.
According to the U.S. Access Board and the National Center on Accessibility, a typical public playground is designed for a lifespan of ten to twenty (10-20) years. It should be noted that while some Village playgrounds have surpassed that average life span, Village playgrounds are maintained to the highest possible safety standards. A Certified Playground Safety Inspector (CPSI) from the Public Works Department inspects and reports on each playground monthly, and all hazards and other issues are addressed promptly. Public Works shifted from analog to digital (cloud-based) record keeping in 2026, which will make record keeping even more efficient.
The Public Works Department currently employs eight (8) Certified Playground Safety Inspectors (CPSI). Upon completion of each playground, a Village CPSI audits all work to ensure compliance with manufacturer requirements and national playground standards. Once approved by a Village CPSI, playgrounds are opened to the public for all to enjoy.
Since 2020, the Village has renovated twenty-nine (29) playgrounds based on data outlined in the “2019 Village Park Assessment” and subsequent “2023 Playground and Pavilion Assessment”. The 2019 Assessment was used to help determine which playgrounds would be renovated from 2020-2023 and provided a comprehensive look at the condition of the Village’s parks, while the goal of the “2023 Playground and Pavilion Assessment” was to provide a roadmap for the next five (5) years (2024-2028) for playground and pavilion renovations. The 2023 Playground and Pavilion Assessment is available for public review via the Public Works website. A follow up assessment is scheduled for 2028 to provide future renovation guidance.
Playground Funding
The Village’s 5-Year Capital Budget includes funding for seventeen (17) playground and eleven (11) pavilion renovations between 2024 and 2028 as detailed below:
2024
Playgrounds: Colonial, Frontier, Mallard Landing, and Treetop Parks
Pavilions: Brown (new), Cameno Real (new), Capistrano (replacement), and Country Club Estates (replacement) Parks
2025
Playgrounds: Country Club Estates, Laurel Hill, Eagle Ridge III (Doogan and Schussler Parks - moved to 2026)
Pavilions: Doogan (new) and Helen (replacement) Parks
2026
Playgrounds: Evergreen View, Grasslands, and Helen Parks
Pavilions: Eagle Ridge III (replacement) and Evergreen View (replacement) Parks
2027
Playgrounds: Crystal Creek, Equestrian, and Fountain Hills Parks
Pavilions: Frontier (replacement) and Veterans (replacement) Parks
2028
Playgrounds: Deer Point Estates and Wlodarski Parks
Pavilions: Crescent Park (depending on development plans for the Triangle)
2026 Proposed Playground and Pavilion Renovations
The Village’s FY2026 budget includes funding for three (3) playground renovations, which based on data from the 2023 Playground and Pavilion Assessment, includes Helen, Grasslands, and Evergreen View Parks. The playground renovations at Schussler and Doogan Parks are part of larger park renovations and have been budgeted/reviewed separately from the currently proposed 2026 Playground Renovations.
The full scope of work of these renovations includes new playground equipment, new engineered wood fiber (wood mulch), improved edge restraints, new site amenities, and ADA improvements. A description of proposed playground improvements and a map of the location of these parks are provided as an attachment to this report.
The Village’s FY2026 budget includes funding for pavilion renovations at Evergreen View and Helen Parks. Pavilions are shipped to Public Works and installed by Natural Resources and Facilities staff members. It should be noted that, due to long lead times, approval for the purchase of the pavilions that will be installed in 2026 were purchased in December 2025 (see 2025-0976).
Public Notification of Proposed Improvements
Before requesting approval from the Village Board, playground and pavilion renovation options are presented to the public and the Grounds and Recreation Facilities Advisory Board (formerly Recreation Advisory Board) by staff from Public Works.
To notify residents of the proposed improvements, this year postcards were sent to the two hundred seventy-eight (278) residents who live within three hundred (300) feet of the parks where improvements are proposed. Postcards included general information about the proposed improvements, as well as a QR Code that links to the website where more detailed information was available. A survey was posted on the Public Works website for residents to vote on their preferred playground option (1 or 2) and provide comments regarding the improvements. An invitation to the February 17, 2026, Grounds and Recreation Facilities Advisory Board (“Advisory Board”) meeting was also included.
At the Advisory Board meeting on February 17, 2026, held at the Rec Admin Building, Public Works staff presented the proposed playground and pavilion improvement projects to the public and Advisory Board members. Survey results were presented for each park. Seven (7) residents attended the meeting, and thirty-two (32) residents participated in the online survey. Ultimately the Advisory Board voted on each of the proposed playground options and a final recommendation was made for each park, as summarized below:
Playgrounds
Helen Park: Option 2 (no changes proposed)
Grasslands Park: Option 2 (no changes proposed)
Evergreen View Park: Option 2 (no changes proposed)
Pavilions
Evergreen View and Eagle Ridge III Parks (no changes proposed)
The Grounds and Recreation Facilities Advisory Board recommended options aligned with the preferred options of residents as indicated on the online survey results. The playground proposal described below, which is attached for approval, reflects the playground selections recommended by the members of the Grounds and Recreation Facilities Advisory Board.
Playground Proposal
A co-op proposal from Landscape Structures Inc. (LSI) for the purchase and installation of the playground improvements is attached for review. The proposal was facilitated by Landscape Structures’ local vendor, NuToys Leisure Products. The proposal includes an 8% discount on playground equipment based on the co-op pricing offered via Sourcewell Contract #101625-LSI. The co-op discount is typically 6%, but because of the volume of equipment purchased, the Village will receive an 8% discount. The proposed contractor site work has been competitively bid by NuToys, and is based on prevailing wage rates. This is the same proposal process for playground improvements that has been used since 2020.
The scope of LSI’s proposal includes: new playground equipment, professional playground installation, safety surfacing (mulch) removal and replacement, edge restraint (border) removal and replacement, and the installation of ADA accessible ramps.
To complete the proposed playground renovations, the Village utilizes LSI as the general contractor to ensure the playground equipment, safety surfacing, and concrete work is installed correctly by certified local contractors. The Village would work closely with Landscape Structures’ local vendor, NuToys Leisure Products, on a day-to-day basis during the duration of the project. This is the same arrangement used by the Village since 2020, which has provided an efficient and effective means of completing the scope of work. Since 2020, procurement of equipment was completed on schedule and the installation of all work exceeded staff’s expectations for quality and attention to detail.
LSI has also used this type of co-op purchasing/installation services contract with several other local municipalities, including the City of Lake Forest, Arlington Heights School District, Buffalo Grove Park District, Algonquin School District 300, Niles Park District, West Aurora School District, Peoria Park District, and Naperville School District 203.
As such, staff recommends approving the proposal from Landscape Structures Inc. for the 2026 playground equipment purchase and installation for $600,791.00. A 3% contingency of $18,023.73 is requested to address change orders made necessary by circumstances not reasonably foreseeable at the time the contract was signed. As such, the total requested approval is for an amount not to exceed $618,814.73.
This agenda item is being considered by the Committee of the Whole and the Village Board of Trustees on the same night.
Financial Impact
Funding in the amount of $600,000.00 was budgeted in 2026 in account 1008010-470250 for 2026 playground renovations. Savings in the amount of $18,814.73 is available from the purchase of park pavilions to cover the difference between budget and actual cost.
Recommended Action/Motion
I move to approve the participation in joint purchasing cooperative Sourcewell pursuant to Contract #101625-LSI and authorize the approval and execution of a vendor contract with Landscape Structures, Inc. for the 2026 Playground Renovations - Purchase and Installation, based on Landscape Structures, Inc.’s proposal dated February 19, 2026, for $600,791.00 plus $18,023.73 of contingency funds, for a total not-to-exceed contract price of $618,817.73;
AND
Authorize the Village Manager to execute all related contracts, subject to Village Attorney review;
AND
Allow the Village Manager to approve change orders related to the contract.