Parks, Recreation & Forestry Advisory Board

Parks, Recreation, & Forestry Advisory Board – AGENDA Thursday, November 17th, 2022, Council Chambers 7:30 A.M. City Spearfish is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting. Topic: Parks, Recreation, & Forestry Advisory Board Time: Nov 17, 2022, 07:30 AM Mountain Time (US and Canada) Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84003973581 Meeting ID: 840 0397 3581 One tap mobile +17193594580,,84003973581# US +12532158782,,84003973581# US (Tacoma) Dial by your location +1 719 359 4580 US +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma) +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston) +1 669 444 9171 US +1 669 900 9128 US (San Jose) +1 689 278 1000 US +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC) +1 309 205 3325 US +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago) +1 360 209 5623 US +1 386 347 5053 US +1 507 473 4847 US +1 564 217 2000 US +1 646 558 8656 US (New York) +1 646 931 3860 US Meeting ID: 840 0397 3581 Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kvr3X6F4Z CALL TO ORDER ROLL CALL Next Meeting – December 15th, 2022, 7:30 A.M. Council Chambers  Parks, Recreation, & Forestry Advisory Board – AGENDA Thursday, November 17th, 2022, Council Chambers 7:30 A.M. DECLARATION OF ANY POTENTIAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST APPROVAL OF AGENDA APPROVAL OF MINUTES PUBLIC COMMENT OLD BUSINESS Board Items • Make a recommendation on the playground equipment at Evans Park. • Question and answer session on the November staff update. NEW BUSINESS • No new business FYI ITEMS • City Holiday Party is December 9th at 5:00 P.M for the social, dinner at 6:00 P.M. All board members and a guest are invited. ADJOURNMENT Next Meeting – December 15th, 2022, 7:30 A.M. Council Chambers  Parks, Recreation, & Forestry Advisory Board – MINUTES Thursday, October 20th, 2022, Council Chambers 7:30 A.M. The meeting was held in the Council Chambers and is available on Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/cVqqbLTo7Dlw1pTmUnckw2CaQqC2DJ84is945ZeeKm3cxRgqUa 4qHuJHuOS6nO0J.uW3xjFK7NT3vmUo_?startTime=1666272679000 CALL TO ORDER 7:31 A.M. ROLL CALL In attendance: Caldwell, Coburn, Dardis, Griffith, Holden, Neilson, Reth, Running, and Weigel. Also in attendance were City Administrator McFarland, P&R Director Ehnes, SRAC Facility Superintendent Rauterkus, Parks Maintenance Superintendent McDonald, City Attorney McDonald, Recreation and Campground Coordinator Wetz, and Administrative Assistant Heiting. Absent: Clark. DECLARATION OF ANY POTENTIAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST No conflicts of interest were declared. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Weigel moved, Dardis second, and all voted to approve the agenda. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Neilson moved, Reth second, and all voted to approve the minutes of the September 15th, 2022, meeting. PUBLIC COMMENT Public comment was opened at 7:33 A.M. with no comments being received. OLD BUSINESS Board Items • Make a recommendation on the playground equipment at Evans Park. o McFarland made an opening statement expressing his appreciation for the involvement of the community as well as requesting that the community understands that the end goal is to provide safe equipment for the children. McFarland encouraged the community members wanting to stay involved to attend the city council meeting where this topic will be discussed. o Ehnes spoke about the history of the Rocketship as well as a summary of the requirements to get the Rocketship compliant with the current safety standards. Ehnes stated a law was passed in 2010 mandating that any playground equipment renovated or refurbished after the year 2012 is required to meet the ADA standards. o Ehnes explained that he met with Ainsworth-Benning as well as Mid-States Welding to evaluate the repairs needed, as well as obtain quotes for renovations. Weigel Next Meeting – November 17th, 2022, 7:30 A.M. Council Chambers  Parks, Recreation, & Forestry Advisory Board – MINUTES Thursday, October 20th, 2022, Council Chambers 7:30 A.M. questioned when the information on the cost of renovation will be available. Ehnes stated that quotes are expected to be available within the next couple of weeks. o Ehnes showcased renderings of replacement equipment. o A member of the audience questioned why the swings currently attached to the Rocketship equipment need to be removed. Ehnes replied that according to the new safety standards, swings cannot be attached to a composite structure; therefore, the current swings no longer meet safety standards. o Public Comment:  Lynn Ensor, 504 Fruitdale Dr, Spearfish expressed that she has two goals in mind at the beginning of the discussion about the removal of the Rocketship from Evans Park. The goals are to show appreciation to the Parker family for the donation of the equipment and to bring awareness of how the removal of the Rocketship will impact the surrounding neighborhood and the overall community. Lynn stated that she has conducted in-depth research and has talked to local individuals and businesses willing to assist in the renovations.  Lou Bell, 1521 Third Street, Spearfish expressed that she has made memories playing at the Rocketship and feels that Evans Park is a safe park.  Rodney Ross, 2152 Tumble Weed Trail, Spearfish owner of Mid-States Welding voiced that after placing the Rocketship removal project on social media, interest in the project has received a significant amount of feedback and feels as though there is enough community support to help get the Rocketship to meet current safety standards.  Patricia Partridge 119 Yukon Place, Spearfish expressed that she takes her grandchildren to the park daily and believes nostalgia is very important. She believes that the longevity of the metal playground will outlast a plastic variation, as our harsh weather conditions age materials at a faster rate.  Kerri Gray-Wood, 114 Vermont Street, Spearfish spoke about the uniqueness that the Rocketship offers and what the structure means to the community. Ms. Gray-Wood believes the Rocketship is a cultural landmark and would like it to be taken into consideration that removing the equipment is a serious matter. Ms. Gray-Wood questioned if there is a possibility to renovate the Rocketship and further develop new opportunities surrounding Evans Park. She feels that the community is working hard on finding clever and creative ways to keep the existing park equipment. However, if there is no solution and Next Meeting – November 17th, 2022, 7:30 A.M. Council Chambers Parks, Recreation, & Forestry Advisory Board – MINUTES Thursday, October 20th, 2022, Council Chambers 7:30 A.M. the Rocketship must be taken down, she requests that the new equipment be purchased locally.  Jeff Parker,19941 Crow Peak Road, Spearfish expressed that the potential removal of the Rocketship has created emotional distress for his family as the Rocketship was donated as a memorial for his son who passed away at an early age. Dr. Parker expressed appreciation for all the support and has requested that if the removal is necessary, the family would like the structure returned.  Randy Diebert, 1715 Scott Ave, Spearfish shared that Spearfish has a history of family and community involvement with the donation of property. Mr. Diebert requested more time to explore further options and potentially see if any charitable groups would provide monetary donations to this project to fund the necessary upgrades to the Rocketship, create pods, and provide new equipment in the park.  Jo Powell, 111 DuBois Lane, Spearfish stated that she is very pleased with our parks and what Spearfish has to offer. As a former art teacher, Powell expressed that by keeping the Rocketship we value our sense of community. She thanked Dr. Parker for sharing his son’s sense of joy with our city.  Amber Ginter, 106 West Main, Chambers, NE attended via Zoom. She is a former resident of Spearfish and she felt that the Rocketship is a staple of Spearfish. When she returns to visit family, Ginter makes it a point to take loved ones to Evans Park to play on the Rocketship.  Elizabeth Mattson, 159 Aurora Street, Spearfish attended via Zoom and shared that she would like to see the repairs be done due to the sustainability and the nostalgia that the park provides to local community members.  A member of the audience questioned the cost of repairs for the Rocketship in Spencer, Iowa. Ms. Ensor replied that she was not able to receive that information.  Griffth expressed that at this time we are not aware of the renovation cost. Once the cost is determined the board will be able to determine the following steps.  Reth expressed appreciation for the comments from the community members.  Weigel expressed her appreciation for the community feedback as well as the suggestion to utilize local contractors.  Dardis reassured the community members that all ideas will be researched and considered before making a recommendation. Next Meeting – November 17th, 2022, 7:30 A.M. Council Chambers  Parks, Recreation, & Forestry Advisory Board – MINUTES Thursday, October 20th, 2022, Council Chambers 7:30 A.M. o Reth moved, Caldwell second, and all voted to postpone the recommendation on the playground equipment at Evans Park. • Question and answer session on the September staff update. o No questions were received on the staff update. NEW BUSINESS Rec and Aquatics Center • Adjust the 2023 fees at the Spearfish Rec and Aquatics Center. o Recreation Facility Superintendent Brett Rauterkus presented the new proposed indoor recreation fees for the year 2023. o Caldwell questioned the price increase for Senior Games participants. Rauterkus explained that due to a lack of volunteers the Rec Center employees have been responsible to plan and operate this event. The fee also helps offset payroll and provides shirts and medals. o Neilson questioned how the scholarship process works. Rauterkus explained the process and expressed his appreciation for the community’s assistance in funding. o Rauterkus presented the idea of hosting a one-time event (day or weekend) during the open house to purchase indoor memberships at a discount. o Neilson questioned how long the new fee structure will be in effect. Rauterkus replied that the Rec Center will be operating on a 2-year rotation where the indoor facility and the outdoor waterpark will be on alternating years. o Weigel moved, Running seconded, and all voted to recommend the fees as presented to the full city council. FYI ITEMS • No FYI items. ADJOURNMENT Reth moved, Weigel seconded, and all voted to adjourn at 8:42 A.M. Next Meeting – November 17th, 2022, 7:30 A.M. Council Chambers  AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY Board Items-Old Business DEPARTMENT: ___________________________________________________________ REQUEST: Make a recommendation on the playground equipment at Evans Park. JUSTIFICATION: (attach any additional justification and/or documentation) Staff have requested and been approved for $350,000 in the 2023 budget to make improvements to the playground equipment at Evans Park. Local citizens and staff have been gathering information for the board to consider and the staff have came up with two options for the board to consider. Evans Park has another playground structure that is scheduled for replacement in 2023. That equipment is not part of this discussion and its replacement will occur regardless of the decision made about the rocketship. The two options regarding the rocketship are: 1. Renovate the current rocketship. 2. Remove the current equipment and replace it with new equipment. See attached staff report for more detailed information. General Fund 2023 FUNDING:___________________________________________________________ RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends option 2 ________________________________________________________ MEETING DATE PRFAB:_________________________ 11/17/22 Deadline: Friday 12:00 PM prior to board meeting, send electronically to the SRAC Admin Assistant.  PARKS, RECREATION, AND FORESTRY ADVISORY BOARD To: Spearfish PRF Advisory Board From: Spearfish Parks and Recreation Director Date: 20 October 2022 RE: Staff Report for Rocketship Playground at Evans Park Staff, along with several members of the PRF Advisory Board, have met several times to discuss potential options for the rocketship playground equipment located in Evans Park. The equipment was donated thirty years ago by the Parker family in memory of their son. Because of the circumstances around its donation and the amount of time it has been in our community, we all understand it is a fixture that holds meaning and significance. Like all infrastructure, playground equipment has a life span. Over time, constant exposure to the elements and evolving safety standards render playground equipment unsafe. On average, playground equipment lasts twenty to thirty years depending on material quality, maintenance, weather exposure, and other factors. The Rocketship is 30 years old. The equipment is showing its age with rust, cracked pipes, dented slides, and a general overall deteriorating condition. In addition to its physical state, the equipment does not meet current playground safety standards under the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Public Playground Safety Handbook. Due to these issues, staff found it prudent to budget for replacement equipment in 2023. The City Council has authorized $350,000 in 2023 to replace the playground equipment in Evans Park with new, updated equipment. Some citizens approached the staff with the idea of renovating and refurbishing the Rocketship rather than replacing it with new equipment. These citizens have done the research and found that other communities have renovated playground equipment. Please note, Evans Park has another playground structure that is scheduled for replacement in 2023. That equipment is not part of this discussion and its replacement will occur regardless of the decision made about the Rocketship. This report aims to lay out the options before the Board so it can make a recommendation to the City Council. Option 1: Renovate and refurbish An inspection on October 18th, 2022 conducted by Safety Benefits Inc. a third-party company representing the City’s insurance company revealed the following issues. This is not a comprehensive list of the findings. A detailed report will be provided to the City, but will not be available by the time of the October PRF Advisory Board meeting. • Remove the swings. o Page 39 of the handbook states, “swings should not be attached to a composite structure.” A “composite structure” is defined as two or more play structures attached or functionally linked, to create one integral unit that provides more than one play activity. The Rocketship is a composite structure. o Page 40 of the handbook states that there needs to be a minimum clearance of six lateral feet between use zones. The swings do not meet that minimum clearance requirement. o Swings must also be 30” from an existing structure, the swings are currently at 20” o Swing bracket bolts are upside down. • Issues with the large slide. o A hood or other means needs to be placed over the slide to channel users into the sitting position. o There is too large of a gap on the rails that connect to the large slide. o There is a space at the front end of the slide where users would enter. This gap needs to be closed up. o The discharge angle of the slide is currently at 20 degrees. The discharge angle cannot be more than 4 degrees. The discharge must be 11” long and the discharge may only be 7”- 15” above the ground. o Reset the slide in concrete and replace and seal metal posts. The slide is not set straight in the concrete so there are 3 metal posts with small splits. • Issues with the small slide. o A smooth transition must be created. Currently, the transition is elevated and must be flush with the surface. o A hood or other means needs to be placed over the slide to channel the users into the sitting position. o There are sharp edges underneath the slide caused by a protruding mounting bracket. o The discharge angle of the slide is currently at 20 degrees. The discharge angle cannot be more than 4 degrees and the discharge may only be 7”- 15” above the ground. o Install a shade structure over the small slide. • Nearly all bolts on the structure will need to be replaced so no more than two threads are showing. • Entrapment Issues. o The vertical bars need to be extended so there isn’t a gap greater than 3.5” as this is an entrapment danger. o Multiple entrapment issues on the structure would allow a child to get their body through the opening, but not the head resulting in an entrapment issue. • The main center post that supports the structure is loose and needs to be resecured. • Cosmetic touchups. o Painting and fiberglass repair. • Install signage indicating the appropriate age for users of the structure. • Replace rusted structural sections.  o It is unknown whether this is possible and, if so, the cost or utility of such replacement. In addition, the ADA requires that any playground equipment that is altered must comply with the then-current guidelines. The Rocketship does not currently comply with ADA standards. Thus, if the Rocketship is renovated or altered, it would need to meet ADA standards. According to the ADA, an accessible playground is one that offers a range of play experiences to children of varying abilities. There must be: • Once a child is in the play area, they must be able to access the play equipment by either moving out of their mobility device onto the playground structure (such as a transfer station) or by direct play structure access in their mobility device (such as a ramp). • The number of accessible play features would need to be upgraded to meet the ratio set by the ADA. • There are additional requirements, but a consultant would be required to ensure compliance. Option 2: Remove current equipment and replace it with new equipment. New equipment purchased from a commercial playground company would be designed and constructed to meet all handbook and ADA requirements. The end product would be brand-new equipment guaranteed to meet standards and last another 20-plus years. See attached renderings of conceptual playgrounds. Conclusion and Recommendation While the staff certainly understands the community’s attachment to the current equipment, it is the responsibility of the staff to ensure the safety of the public and children that are using the equipment. The staff also have the responsibility of ensuring that the City is following all guidelines, rules, regulations, laws, etc. Therefore, staff recommends option 2 as the best path forward for Evans Park. In the event this is the chosen option, the current equipment could be surplused and returned to the Parker Family, or a small portion of the Rocketship could be kept and maintained for its historical value. Whichever option is chosen, staff would like to ensure the Parker family is still recognized for their donation to the City by erecting a plaque or informational signage detailing the history of the park. Regards, Tyler Ehnes Parks and Recreation Director City of Spearfish  Mid State Welding LLC Estimate PO Box 5 Spearfish, SD 57783 US +1 6055690166 midstateweldingllc@gmail.com http://www.midstate-welding.com ADDRESS Tyler Ehnes City Of Spearfish Park &Rec Director ESTIMATE # DATE 20-604 11/16/2022 DATE DESCRIPTION QTY RATE AMOUNT Rocket ship restoration Disassemble / unbolt slides and 1 60,000.00 60,000.00 wings, remove landings (platforms), cone of the rocket ship. Delivery to welding shop. Welding repairs ,sand blasting, painting, new bolts, engineering of rocket ship and foundations, delivery back to playground and installation. Hi Tyler SUBTOTAL 60,000.00 After visiting with Al with A&L contractors, MCD, Spearfish building supply, TAX 0.00 interstate engineering, Mid State Welding and few other businesses as part of TOTAL the estimated cost would be all together $55k -$60k to repair the rocket ship as $60,000.00 hole project. Accepted By Accepted Date November 16th, 2022 Tyler Ehnes Parks and Rec Director Spearfish, SD 57783 Re: City of Spearfish Rocketship Park Rocketship Refurbishment Dear Tyler, We are pleased to provide you with a quote to dismantle the Rocketship structure into individual pieces for Transport to a local welding shop for repair, and to reassemble the refurbished pieces at its original location in Evans Park. Total Estimated Project Construction Cost $69,941 DESIGN DOCUMENTS USED IN ESTIMATE DEVELOPMENT: The Estimate was prepared based on the following SBI insurance inspection report prepared by Safety Benefits Inc. on 10/18/2022. (Copy of original erection plans were not provided during quoting) Scope of work: Removal of the existing fasteners of the structure. Installation of new fasteners on the structure. Removal/reinstallation of the nose cone of the Rocketship, 2 slides, 3 ladders, 2 seats, 3 platforms, 2 wing Structures and 10 yards of concrete for the structure. Transport of the listed items to and from welding fabricator in Spearfish location. General construction clean-up during removal reinstallation. Finish cleaning space once reassembly is completed. Exclusions: Building Permit, Material testing, Removal/replacement of woodchips, Material procurement of additional metal pieces that are damaged or rusted beyond repair. SCHEDULE: Our proposal is based upon a 1-week period to disassemble the structure and transport to the welding fabricator. 2 weeks to reassemble the structure after welding fabrication is completed and all materials to completely reassemble rocket ship have been procured and are onsite. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions regarding this proposal. Sincerely, Branden Ginter Branden Ginter Project Manager Ainsworth Benning Construction Inspection of Rocketship Structure Evans Park, Spearfish SD 10/18/2022 Safety Benefits, Inc. (SBI) was asked by the City of Spearfish to conduct an inspection of a rocketship structure located in Evans Park. Jeff Lanning and Matthew Petersen (the inspectors) conducted this inspection. Both inspectors hold the designation of Certified Playground Safety Inspector through the National Recreation and Park Association. The rocketship playground was inspected using the recommendations in the Consumer Product Safety Commission Handbook for Public Playground Safety as a guide. On October 18, 2022, the inspectors met with Tyler Ehnes, Parks and Recreation Director for the City of Spearfish to conduct the inspection. The rocketship structure was donated to the City of Spearfish by a local family in memory of a deceased child. It was installed at Evans Park in approximately 1991. The rocketship structure was manufactured by Quality Industries, Inc. of Hillsdale, Michigan. The inspectors accompanied Tyler Ehnes to Evans Park to assess the rocketship structure to determine if it meets current guidelines for playground equipment. Upon arrival, there were several community members on site to observe the inspection process. The inspectors were informed that the group is working to prevent the City from removing the rocketship structure. Throughout the inspection special tools were used to determine compliance. Pictures were taken of those items that did not comply with recommended guidelines found in the CPSC Handbook for Public Playground Safety. Rocketship Structure 602 East State Street | Plankinton SD 57368 | 605.334.9567 | 1.888.313.0839 AGE SEPARATION CPSC Handbook for Public Playground Safety (pg. 6) 2.2.2 AGE SEPARATION: “For playgrounds intended to serve children of all ages, the layout of pathways and the landscaping of the playground should show the distinct areas for the different age groups. The areas should be separated at least by a buffer zone, which could be an area with shrubs or benches. This separation and buffer zone will reduce the chance of injury from older, more active children running through areas filled with younger children with generally slower movement and reaction times.” FINDING As the rocketship structure sits now, there is no age specific designation signage. In looking at the equipment, toddlers should be discouraged from using the equipment. HEAD ENTRAPMENT PHOTO 1 PHOTO 2 PHOTO 3 CPSC Handbook for Public Playground Safety (pg. 15) 3.3.1 HEAD ENTRAPMENT: “Head entrapment is a serious concern on playgrounds since it could lead to strangulation and death. A child’s head may become entrapped if the child enters an opening either feet first or head first. Head entrapment by head-first entry generally occurs when children place their heads through an opening in one orientation, turn their heads to a different orientation, then are unable to get themselves out. Head entrapment by feet first entry involves children who generally sit or lie down and slide their feet into an opening that is large enough to permit their bodies to go through but is not large enough to permit their heads to go through. A part or a group of parts should not form openings that could trap a child’s head.” FINDING The inspectors determined that potential exists for a head entrapment and possible strangulation of a child due to the openings in the areas noted in the pictures above with an arrow. Test fixtures used to measure these openings include the small torso template and large head template. ENTANGLEMENT & IMPALEMENT PHOTO 4 PHOTO 5 PHOTO 6 PHOTO 7 CPSC Handbook for Public Playground Safety (pg. 14) 3.2 ENTANGLEMENT AND IMPALEMENT: “Projections on playground equipment should not be able to entangle children’s clothing nor should they be large enough to impale. To avoid this risk:  The diameter of a projection should not increase in the direction away from the surrounding surface toward the exposed end  Bolts should not expose more than two threads beyond the end of the nut.” FINDING Throughout the rocketship structure, the inspectors found protrusions beyond acceptable limits. Some of these are illustrated in the pictures above. Photo #7 is of a seat found in the top platform of the rocketship structure. It is believed this box is meant to resemble a pilot’s seat. The round post attached to the seat is a protrusion that could impale a child. SLIDES PHOTO 8 PHOTO 9 PHOTO 10 CPSC Handbook for Public Playground Safety (pg. 32) 5.3.6 SLIDES: “Regardless of the type of slide, avoid using bare metals on the platforms, chutes, and steps. When exposed to direct sunlight the bare metal may reach temperatures high enough to cause serious contact burn injuries in a matter of seconds. Provide shade for bare metal slides or use other materials that may reduce the surface temperature such as, but not limited to, plastic or coated metal.” FINDING Both slides on the rocketship structure are metal and the longer straight slide faces south. There is some shade in the area during certain times of the day. CPSC Handbook for Public Playground Safety (pg. 32) 5.3.6.1 SLIDE ACCESS: “Access to a stand-alone slide generally is by means of a ladder with rungs, steps, or a stairway with steps. Slides may also be part of a composite play structure, so children will gain access from other parts of the structure. Embankment slides use the ground for access.” FINDING Entry platforms on the slides do not meet the guidelines for slide access. CPSC Handbook for Public Playground Safety (pg. 33) 5.3.6.2 SLIDE PLATFORM: “All slides should be provided with a platform with sufficient length to facilitate the transition from standing to sitting at the top of the inclined sliding surface. Embankment slides are exempt from platform requirements because they are on ground level; however, they should not have any spaces or gaps as noted below. The platform should:  Be at least 19 inches deep for toddlers.  Be at least 14 inches deep for preschool-age and school-age children.  Be horizontal.  Be at least as wide as the slide chute.  Be surrounded by guardrails or barriers.  Conform to the same recommendations as general platforms given in §5.1.1.  Not have any spaces or gaps that could trap strings, clothing, body parts, etc. between the platform and the start of the slide chute.  Provide handholds to facilitate the transition from standing to sitting and decrease the risk of falls (except tube slides where the tube perimeter provides hand support). These should extend high enough to provide hand support for the largest child in a standing position, and low enough to provide hand support for the smallest child in a sitting position.  Provide a means to channel a user into a sitting position at the entrance to the chute, such as a guardrail, hood, or other device that discourages climbing.” FINDINGS  Photos #8 and #9 show gaps between the entrance to the slide and the platform. The gaps are large enough for fingers to be caught or for a string to get caught and become an entanglement.  Neither of the slides have a hood or other means to channel the user into a sitting position.  Photo #10 shows an approximate 2 inch gap between the slide and the railing where the handrail at the top of the straight slide attaches to the slide. CPSC Handbook for Public Playground Safety (pg. 35) 5.3.6.4 CHUTE EXIT REGION: “All slides should have an exit region to help children maintain their balance and facilitate a smooth transition from sitting to standing when exiting. The chute exit region should:  Be between 0 and -4° as measured from a plane parallel to the ground.  Have edges that are rounded or curved to prevent lacerations or other injuries that could result from impact with a sharp or straight edge.  For toddlers the chute exit region should: o Be between 7 and 10 inches long if any portion of the chute exceeds a 24° slope. o Be no more than 6 inches above the protective surfacing. o Have a transition from the sliding portion to the exit region with a radius of curvature of at least 18 inches. • For preschool- and school-age the chute exit region should: o Be at least 11 inches long. o Be no more than 11 inches above the protective surfacing if the slide is no greater than 4 feet high. o Be at least 7 inches but not more than 15 inches above the protective surfacing if the slide is over 4 feet high FINDING The exits are not close to horizontal. The exit regions should be measured for the intended users and at the proper degree. GENERAL SWING RECOMMENDATIONS CPSC Handbook for Public Playground Safety (pg. 35) 5.3.8.1 GENERAL SWING RECOMMENDATIONS:  “Hardware used to secure the suspending elements to the swing seat and to the supporting structure should not be removable without the use of tools.  S-hooks are often part of a swing’s suspension system, either attaching the suspending elements to the overhead support bar or to the swing seat. Open S-hooks can catch a child’s clothing and present a strangulation hazard. S hooks should be pinched closed. An S-hook is considered closed if there is no gap or space greater than 0.04 inches (about the thickness of a dime).  Swings should be suspended from support structures that discourage climbing.  A-frame support structures should not have horizontal cross-bars.  Fiber ropes are not recommended as a means of suspending swings since they may degrade over time.  Swing structures should be located away from other equipment or activities to help prevent young children from inadvertently running into the path of moving swings. Additional protection can be provided by means of a low blockade such as a fence or hedge around the perimeter of the swing area. The blockade should not be an obstacle within the use zone of a swing structure or hamper supervision by blocking visibility.” FINDING General swing recommendations state that swings should be a prescribed distance away from the support structure depending on the age of the user. The swings attached to the rocketship structure are for preschool-age/school-age, which means they should be at least 30 inches from the support structure. More importantly, it is recommended that swings not be attached to composite structures. With that in mind, there should not be swings on this equipment. ACCESSIBILITY CPSC Handbook for Public Playground Safety (pg. 6) 2.2.1 ACCESSIBILITY: “Special consideration should be given to providing accessible surfaces in a play area that meets the ASTM Standard Specification for Determination of Accessibility of Surface Systems Under and Around Playground Equipment, ASTM F1951. Equipment selection and location along with the type of protective surfacing are key components to ensuring the opportunity for children with disabilities to play on the playground.” FINDING When renovating a piece of playground equipment, age groups for which that equipment is intended need to be considered and defined. With any playground renovation or improvement, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) must be considered to ensure the playground complies with ASTM F1951. Jeffrey M. Lanning, CPSI Loss Control Consultant jlanning@safety-benefits.com Matthew Petersen, CPSI Loss Control Consultant mpetersen@safety-benefits.com SAFETY BENEFITS, INC. 602 E STATE ST PLANKINTON SD 57368  Public Playground Accessibility Review Updated 8/17/2017 www.playdrp.com OUTSIDE THE PLAY AREA Connections Is there at least one accessible route connecting to the playground with site arrival points and other accessible buildings, facilities, elements and spaces on the site? If there are separate play areas geographically separated on a site, is there an accessible route to each play area? Accessible Route Surface Is the surface of the route firm, stable and slip resistant? Width Is the route at least 36 inches wide? If the route is greater than 200 feet in length and less than 60 inches wide, is there a passing space no less than 60 X 60 inches? Openings If there are grates or openings on the route, are the openings no larger that 1/2 inch? Is the long dimension perpendicular to the dominant direction of travel? Changes in Level Is the route clear of any changes in level greater than 1/2”? Slopes Does the cross slope of accessible route exceed 1:48? Is the running slope of the accessible route greater than a 1:20 slope? If Yes: Landings Is there a level landing that is at least 60 inches long and at least as wide as the ramp? Is there a level landing where the ramp changes direction that is at least 60 x 60 inches? Handrails If the ramp has a rise higher than 6 inches, are there handrails on both sides? Is the top of the handrail gripping surface no less than 34 inches and no greater than 38 inches above the ramp surface? Is the handrail gripping surface continuous and not obstructed along the top or sides? If the handrail gripping surface is circular, is it no less than 1 ¼ inches and no greater than 2 inches in diameter? If the handrail gripping surface is non-circular, is the perimeter no less than 4 inches and no greater than 6¼ inches? Is the cross section no greater than 2¼ inches? Is there a minimum of 1 1/2 inches between the handrail gripping surfaces and adjacent surfaces? Does the handrail extend at least 12 inches horizontally beyond the top and bottom of the ramp? Return to a wall, guard, or landing surface? Edge protection Does the surface of the ramp extend at least 12 inches beyond the inside face of the handrail? Or is there a curb or barrier that prevents the passage of a 4-inch diameter sphere? Maximum running slope Does the running slope of the accessible route exceed 1:12? Protruding Objects Do all objects on circulation paths through public areas, e.g. fire extinguishers, drinking fountains, signs, etc., protrude no more than 4 inches into the path? If an object protrudes more than 4 inches, is the bottom leading edge at 27 inches or lower above the floor? Is the bottom leading edge at 80 inches or higher above the floor?  Public Playground Accessibility Review Updated 8/17/2017 www.playdrp.com INSIDE THE PLAY AREA Ground Level Connections If there are separate play areas for specific age groups, is there an accessible route to each play area? Is there an accessible ground-level route(s) connecting to the entry and exit point of at least one of each type of ground level play component provided? Are the additional ground level play components required by Table 240.2.1.2 provided? Ground Level Accessible Routes Surface Do the ground surface of the ground level accessible route comply with ASTM 1951-99? Where the accessible route is located in a use zone, does the surface also comply with ASTM 1292-04? Width Is the ground level accessible route at least 60” wide? Is the ground level accessible route at least 44” wide where the play area is less than 1000 square feet? Openings Are any openings on the accessible route less than 1/2 inch wide and perpendicular to the travel direction? Changes in Level Are any vertical changes in level along the ground level accessible route greater than 1/2? (treated if between 1/4 and 1/2) Slopes Is the cross slope of the ground level accessible route less than 1:48? Is the running slope of the ground level accessible route 1:16 or less? Protruding objects Is the vertical clearance of the accessible route free of any protrusions at least 80 inches above the ground surface? Elevated connections Is there transfer access to at least 50% of the elevated play components? If there are 20 or more elevated play components, are at least 25% connected by ramps? RAMPS Openings Are all openings on the ramp surface less than 1/2 inch wide and perpendicular to the travel direction? Width Is the accessible route (ramp) at least 36” wide? Changes in level Is the route clear of any changes in level greater than 1/2”? Slopes and rise Is the cross slope of the ramp 1:48 or less? Is the running slope of the ramp no greater than 1:12? Is the rise for any ramp run connecting elevated play components no greater than 12 inches? Handrails Are there handrails on both sides of the ramp? Is the handrail gripping surface continuous and not obstructed along the top or sides? Is the top of the handrail gripping surface no less than 20 inches and no greater than 28 inches above the ramp surface? If the handrail gripping surface is: Circular, is the outside diameter no less than .95 inch and no greater than 1.55 inch? Non-circular, is it equivalent to a circular gripping surface? Is there a minimum of 1 1/2 inches between the handrail gripping surfaces and adjacent surfaces?  Public Playground Accessibility Review Updated 8/17/2017 www.playdrp.com TRANSFER PLATFORMS AND SYSTEMS Transfer platform Is the top of the transfer platform no less than 11 inches and no greater than 18 inches from the ground? Is the transfer platform at least 14 inches deep by at least 24 inches wide? Is there a clear transfer space at least 30 inches wide by at least 48 inches long adjacent to the platform, with the longer dimension centered on and parallel to the 24 inch minimum long side of the platform? Is the side of the transfer platform adjacent to the clear space unobstructed? Is there at least one means of support for transferring provided on and off the platform? Transfer step Are the transfer steps at least 14 inches deep? At least 24 inches wide? No higher than 8 inches? Is there at least one means of support for transferring provided up and down the transfer steps? PLAY COMPONENTS Is there at least one clear space for a person in a wheelchair to turn around, i.e. a circle at least 60 inches in diameter or a T-shaped space within a 60-inch square, on the ground level accessible route? On the elevated structure connecting elevated play components? If there are swings, is there clear space for a person in a wheelchair to turn around, i.e. a circle at least 60 inches in diameter or a T-shaped space within a 60-inch square, immediately adjacent to at least one swing? Is there a clear ground/floor space at least 30 inches wide and 48 inches long at: Each ground level play component required to be on an accessible route? Each elevated play component required to be on an accessible route that is connected by ramps? If there is a play table for children older than 5 years: Are the tops of rims, curbs, or other obstructions no greater than 31 inches above the ground? Is there clear ground space at least 30 inches wide by at least 48 inches long for a forward approach? Is there clear knee space underneath: At least 17 inches high? Does it extend at least 17 inches deep? Is it least 30 inches wide? If there is a play table for children 5 years or younger: Does it provide knee space as noted above? Is there clear ground space at least 30 inches wide by at least 48 inches long for a parallel approach? If a play component on an accessible route requires transfer to entry points or seats: Is the entry point or seat no less than 11 inches and no greater than 24 inches from the clear floor/ground space? Is there at least one means of transfer support?  Public Playground Accessibility Review Updated 8/17/2017 www.playdrp.com NUMBER OF ELEVATED PLAY COMPONENTS MINIMUM NUMBER OF GROUND LEVEL PLAY MINIMUM NUMBER OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF GROUND PROVIDED COMPONENTS REQUIRED TO BE ON AN ACCESSIBLE LEVEL PLAY COMPONENTS REQUIRED TO BE ON AN ROUTE ACCESSIBLE ROUTE 1 N/A N/A 2-4 1 1 5-7 2 2 8-10 3 3 11-13 4 3 14-16 5 3 17-19 6 3 20-22 7 4 23-25 8 4 26+ 8, plus 1 for each additional 3, or fraction thereof, 5 over 25 Tyler Ehnes From: petvet2@torchlake.com Sent: Saturday, November 12, 2022 10:12 AM To: Tyler Ehnes Subject: Rocket Ship Park Dear Mr. Ehnes, Regarding the repair or replacement of our beloved Rocket Ship, my family and I are strongly in favor of repairing our existing structure with the necessary safety updates, It was a gift of love and has been loved by several generations of children. The prospect of removing the original Rocket Ship is clearly breaking the Parker family's heart. We should protect the precious gift they made to the children of Spearfish by repairing and updating it instead. Sustainability issues are also an important consideration and preservation is preferable to discarding a functional metal structure and replacing it with predominately plastic materials. Thank you for your kind consideration of this matter, Patricia Partridge, DVM and family 1  November Park, Rec, and Forestry Advisory Board Update Director Update: Exit 8 Rec Path Expansion: Construction of Phase 1 is complete and the path is currently open for use. The low bid for Phase 2 came in over 30% higher than the engineer’s estimate. Due to that cost, the City Council along with the SDDOT rejected the bid. This project will be rebid next year. The cost estimate for that phase is expected to be over $800,000 and includes the work on the Exit 8 underpass. We are requesting $600,000 in grants for this phase. The grant application requesting $600,000 for Phase 3 has been submitted and accepted. I along with City Engineer Kyle Mathis presented our project to the TA Grant selection committee on Tuesday. We should find out around the end of January if we are selected for the grant. Phases 2 and 3 will then be bid out next spring/summer and hopefully, the project will be complete by the fall of 2023 or spring of 2024. Sports Complex Phase 1 of the sports complex is nearing completion. With the onset of the winter weather, the contractor will more than likely have to come back in the spring to finish this phase. Phase 2 was put out for bids in September and no bids were received. We approached Ainsworth-Benning Construction to see if they would like to submit a proposal for Phase 2. They submitted a proposal and a schedule. That was approved by City Council at their last meeting. Construction of Phase 2 should begin next spring with completion by the end of the summer. Phase 2 of the sports complex will include a playground, a small restroom, wayfinding, shade structures, and an additional picnic shelter. We anticipate the complex will be open for play in the spring of 2024. I am hoping to get the 2025 Adult State Softball Tournament in Spearfish. Bandshell The bandshell preliminary design has been completed and an initial cost estimate of $648,065.29. I have met with Zach Eixenberger with Spread the Tunes to discuss the path forward. This project will be a partnership between STT and the City, and I plan on applying for grant funds to help fund the project. Zach presented last month to the PRF Board and presented to the City Council. He would like it to be put in the 2023 budget. After working through the budgeting process, it was decided to leave this out of the 2023 budget due to the large number of capital projects already taking place in the department in 2023. I will apply for grants next year and place it in the 2024 budget.  November Park, Rec, and Forestry Advisory Board Update Skate Park The City Council approved the recommendation of the PRF Board for the new skate park with one exception. They want staff to look into an alternate location on the Spartan Park Complex. I reached out to the American Ramp Company and we amended the original proposal to include a second concept design and cost estimate to construct the skate park where the current sand volleyball court is located. The ARC will be in Spearfish on December 6th to host a skating event and a public input meeting to solicit ideas for the concept design. There is also a survey that was created for users to give input that cannot attend the meeting. We have put the info out on our social media and sent it to the schools to pass on to their students. Rocketship Park The insurance report was received on November 1st. Upon seeing the issues, staff met and decided to close it down until renovations can be made or a new playground is installed. I covered the insurance report with the City Council on November 7th. That report is also included in this packet for your review. I have not yet received any quotes from local contractors but should have them by the meeting on Thursday. I would like the board to make a final recommendation on the future of the playground so I can take it forward to City Council in December. AARP Grant This project is complete. Due to the success of this grant, the Spearfish Community Foundation donated $10,319 to the City to complete the rest of the project. The Parks staff have been busy installing the signage and currently have signs installed from Evans Park through the campground. I completed the after-action report this week and submitted it to AARP. In total, these two grants brought in over $25,000 for improvements to the wayfinding and safety of the rec path. Rec Center Parking Lot We have been receiving a lot of complaints about the closure of the parking lot. When the contractor started the project in September, the timeline was 2-3 weeks (per the contractor). Staff then doubled the timeline to 4-6 weeks to give members a realistic expectation of when to expect the parking lot to be open. It has now been over 10 weeks since the beginning of the project. Staff are using every avenue within the contract and bid law to get the contractor to finish the project ASAP. With colder temperatures and more people coming inside to work out, the staff decided on Monday to open the lot as is (without striping) to allow users to park in the main lot. The contractor will still have to finish the striping if the weather allows or come back in the spring to finish the job.  November Park, Rec, and Forestry Advisory Board Update 2023 Projects The department has a great deal of projects in the 2023 budget that were approved by the City Council. I, along with my staff are already busy lining up the 2023 projects. Projects to note are new fitness equipment at the rec center, new sod in the water park phases 2 and 3 of the rec path, phase 2 of the sports complex, recreation path repairs, a new gate configuration on Lookout Mountain, landscaping at the pickleball court, playground improvements at Evans Park, a new playground at Sky Ridge, tennis court resurfacing, new office at the campground as well as many other smaller projects. Parks Maintenance Superintendent Update 1. Rec Path Wayfinding Project Phase 1 – AARP Grant a. Completed by November 1, 2022 b. 29 new sign locations c. A new sidewalk was installed at Rotary Park d. New ADA curb ramp installed at Brady Park e. The new kiosk installed at Brady Park will house an updated Rec Path map f. New “yield to pedestrian” signs installed in crosswalks at Nash Street and Grant Street 2. Rec Path Wayfinding Project Phase 2 – SCF Grant a. All anchors set by November 1, 2022 b. New signs are being installed c. Currently have new signs from Evans Park through the Campground d. Planned completion of all signs installed by year-end 3. Ips beetle meeting with Dr. Ball a. Parks staff facilitated a meeting with Dr. Ball from SDSU to discuss an Ips beetle infestation near the mouth of Spearfish Canyon  November Park, Rec, and Forestry Advisory Board Update b. In attendance were city staff, USFS staff, NRSC staff from Rapid City, and members of the Mountain Plains HOA c. Dr. Ball determined the infestation was within normal thresholds and provided advice for management strategies to every organization present 4. Park restrooms are winterized and closed for the season a. The City Park restroom closest to the Fish Hatchery parking lot remains open year- round 5. Rec Center upgrades a. Assisted Rec Center staff with the relocation of fitness equipment 6. Street Tree removals a. 2 Street Trees were removed as part of our Street Tree Program b. One Silver Poplar along North Main Street c. One Boxelder planted under powerlines at 11th Street and Jackson Boulevard 7. Ice Rink board installation a. Parks staff installed the boards for the ice rink in the Campground b. The rink will be flooded when the weather looks favorable in the extended forecast 8. Landscape cleanups a. Parks staff have begun cleaning up landscapes throughout the parks 9. Winter Wonderland a. Kicks off Saturday, December 3rd, at 5:00 pm at the City Campground Rec Center Facility Superintendent Update Indoor Memberships: • Our membership on 11-10-22 was 2,186. This is an increase of 111 members since the last report. We are selling an average of 3.75 memberships a day.  November Park, Rec, and Forestry Advisory Board Update • We have 173 24-hour memberships. This number is not included in the above number since you must have an active regular membership to be eligible for the 24-hour membership. This is an increase of 36 since the last report. Indoor Day Passes: • Between October 11th and November 10th, we sold 248 adult day passes, 479 youth day passes, and 32 walking day passes. Averaging 24.5 per day, this is an increase of 5.5 per day since the last report. Staffing: • Our part-time Maintenance position is open. We have interviewed a few candidates and are hoping to have the position filled in the next few weeks. Programming • 5 on 5 Adult basketball League: o We have 7 teams. The season will be from September 22nd through November 17th. Most games are played on Thursdays. • Date Night Daycare: o We provide daycare from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm on select nights so parents can plan a date night. The event scheduled for November 12 is full. o This is limited to 9 kids. o The dates for this event are, November 12th, December 10th, January 14th, and February 11th. • Skate Nights: o There were 176 skaters and 11 spectators at the November 4th event. This is an increase of 42 skaters from the October event. o The scheduled dates for the rest of the season are, December 2nd, January 6th, February 3rd, March 3rd, and April 7th. • Holiday events: o Our holiday light contest is from November 26th -December 17th. Community members that decorate their homes or business for the holidays can register for the contest. This puts their address on our map, and community members can then go to each location and vote on their favorites. o Craft fair and Santa at the Rec Center. On December 10th Santa will be at the Rec Center during our Craft Fair. Spaces for the Craft Fair are limited and they are $25 per space. We will also have a professional photographer here that day to take photos with Santa.  November Park, Rec, and Forestry Advisory Board Update ▪We have had so much interest that we chose to increase the limit of booths and moved the event into more areas of the Rec Center. There are currently 64 vendors registered for the event. o We will be playing the movie Elf for a drive-in movie on the 16th of December. • Daycare/Preschool PE classes: o We offer PE classes to many daycares and preschools in spearfish. We are teaching 3 classes a week in November and will be teaching 4 classes a week in December. • Clinics: o We offered a youth volleyball clinic in November for $12. Each session was three 1 hour clinics. Both the 1st – 3rd-grade session and the 4th – 6th-grade session are full at 20 participants. o In December we will be offering a youth archery clinic. Youths ages 8 and up can participate. $12 for 4 one-hour clinics. o In January we will be offering a youth basketball clinic and guitar lessons. o We plan to offer at least one clinic and month and offer a wide range of activities that could include but are not limited to golf, archery, fly fishing, basketball, volleyball, soccer, and outdoor recreation. Fitness • We received 3 new pieces of fitness equipment. • We have moved most of the cardio equipment to the Training room and most of the weight equipment has been moved to the Lookout Room. We have a few more pieces that will be moved this month. • We are offering Silver Sneakers classes Monday through Friday at 9:00 am. • We offer a HITT class Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 12:15 pm. • We will be adding a youth fitness class and an evening fitness class in January.