LEMON GROVE APPROVES MAJOR PARK UPGRADES ALMOST ENTIRELY FROM PROP 68 GRANT FUNDS

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By Jessyka Heredia

An earlier version of this artile mistakenly reported the Council voted 5-0. The vote was 4-1with LeBaron voting no.

December 6, 2023 (Lemon Grove) —Yesterday the Lemon Grove City Council unanimously voted to move forward with installing all new playground structures at Lemon Grove Park, thanks to the Proposition 68 Per Capita Grant Program. This non-competitive grant program provides funding to local government agencies to support the rehabilitation, creation and improvement of local parks and to address deficiencies in neighborhoods lacking access to outdoor recreation facilities. Lemon Grove currently only has two parks with playground equipment and a recreation center that lost all funding over 12 years ago.

Back in November of 2021, the council directed staff to apply for the available grant funding in order to rehab the Lemon Grove Park. In January of 2022, the city was awarded funding in the amount of $194,216.

City staff worked with Miracle Recreation Equipment Company to decide what scope and features could be made possible with the funding they received.

Staff ultimately decided on a design that is sure to make kids and families with all types of different needs very happy. Lemon Grove Park has had the same equipment for over 20 years according to Public Works Director Izzy Murguia.

The new playground equipment will include a new play area for kids 2-5 as well as a section for kids 5-12 with climbers and slides. Lemon Grove Park will now have new sensory equipment, a swing set that includes ADA accessible inclusive and generational seats. A total of 6 swings which is a big upgrade from the current two swing seats available now. The whole family will love the new shade structures as well as all-new wood fiber surfacing.

The design that city staff ultimately decided on is expected to be complete around June of 2024. Murguia stated, “The longest lead time is in the manufacturing of the equipment itself.” There is a 10–12-week expectancy in manufacturing with four weeks expected for mobilization once the equipment is available. Installation is expected to take another four weeks after that.

Councilmember Jennifer Mendoza asked staff, “Is the wood fiber the same as what we have now, and did you look into a rubberized material?” Murguia responded that the parks in Lemon Grove are currently using the same wood fiber as before and that the rubberized option “would have added about an additional $150,000 more,” adding, “It deteriorates over time and it is difficult to replace sections of it” in the event of damage or frequent graffiti that is already a problem in Lemon Groves parks.

Mayor Raquel Vasquez asked staff, “Can you give us an idea on the anticipated life span and anticipated maintenance that will be required?”

Murguia responded, “Life span is 10-12 years. We selected pieces that were durable, high-grade plastics. The day-to-day maintenance should be relatively low again because we selected features low in maintenance cost.”

The council voted 4-1  withCouncilmember LeBaron voting no to award Miracle Recreation Equipment Company a contract in the amount of $212,368, leaving roughly $18,000 coming out of the General Fund.