Woodstock buys playground equipment

Mike Neumann

The Woodstock City Council voted unanimously in favor of waiving competitive bids and approving a $38,709 contract for the purchase of playground equipment for Emricson Park.

“It is important that the city continue to provide funding for the replacement of each of these facilities, not only to ensure safety, but to also provide new and different options for the children,” a staff report stated. “At this time, the city has a total of 14 playground structures, and the anticipated life is 13 to 15 years.”

Due to difficulties with the availability of replacement parts and overall condition, $60,000 was included in the city’s 2012-13 budget for the replacement of playground equipment at Hilltop pavilion in Emricson Park.

While the city waived bids for the project, city staff explained that the nature of the project makes doing so necessary at times.

“Purchase of playground equipment is different than many of the city’s normal bid projects in that the community wants the best value for the cost, not necessarily the lowest price,” the report stated. “It is possible for a potential bidder to submit the lowest bid price by reducing the number of play features on their equipment or reducing play options, which is not in the community’s best interest.”

In order to obtain competitive prices and allow for flexibility of design, selection of features and consideration of the best value provided, the city requested sealed proposals for a play structure with a maximum budget of $50,000.

The city received bids from 10 companies, some submitting as many as three options, before selecting Buffalo Grove-based Howard L. White & Associates.

Parks Supervisor Bob Hoadley reviewed all the proposals and concluded that the Howard L. White & Associates proposal provided a wide variety of play options, easy access and movement from one part of the structure to the next and new and different features for Woodstock.