Agenda - Parks and Recreation Commission - 08/12/2021

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The following are the four scoring factors that consider the playground itself. Combined they account for 60% of the points: 1 Features Posing Safety Concerns. A thorough inspection is to be performed on all elements of the playground structures, including but not limited to swings, slides, transfer decks, railings, and surfaces. If one feature is determined to pose a potential safety concern, the playground automatically receives fifteen points in this category, or one half of the total. If more than one feature is found to pose a concern, the playground receives the full thirty points. 1. Visual Condition of the Playground Set. The inspection will also determine the visual quality of the playground. The presence of faded or chipped paint, or rusted metal, are indicators of poor condition. Playgrounds in great condition receive zero points; playgrounds in fair condition receive five points; playgrounds in poor condition receive the full ten points. 2. Age of the Playground Set. If the playground is less than ten years old, it receives zero points. If it is between ten and twenty years old, it receives two points. If it is between twenty and thirty years old, it receives eight points. If it is greater than thirty years old, it receives the full ten points. The disparity between scores of playgrounds older than twenty years and those younger than twenty years is due to the assumed useful lifespan of a playground being twenty years. 3. Compliance with ADA Standards. ADA standards are defined below. Compliance is worth zero points whereas noncompliance is worth ten points. The matrix additionally considers two factors that encompass the context of the playground. Combined they account for 40% of the points: 4. Community Park vs. Neighborhood Park. This distinction refers to the usage of the park containing the playground in question. Neighborhood parks are smaller parks with fewer amenities that primarily serve the immediate neighborhood. They are mostly used by people who live within walking distance of the park. Community parks are larger parks that serve considerably larger constituencies and that feature a greater variety of amenities, particularly athletic fields. They are the sites of athletic tournaments and major gatherings. Playgrounds in community parks are likely to receive much greater usage and wear down more quickly, needing replacement sooner than their neighborhood counterparts. Consequently, this category gives priority to playgrounds in community parks over those in neighborhood parks, with the former receiving twenty-five points compared to fifteen points. 5. Accessibility via Trails and Other Considerations. Many of Ramsey's older playgrounds are inaccessible via an ADA compliant path which makes them more difficult to access for persons with mobility limitations. Any potential playground replacement would include a paved surface to allow for easier access, thus playgrounds without such a surface are prioritized in this category. This category also maintains room for other considerations as well. Due to the lack of gradience in the scoring metrics, several playgrounds will receive the same score. This category may be used to break ties. 4