1

CPRA2007

Connecting in the Capital “Integrated” Play Structure

City of OttawaComprehensive Asset

Management Life Cycle Renewal

2

Presentation Outline

• Background• Issues: Safety, Development,

Fitness, Efficiency & Cost• Solution & Benefits• Photos of Integrated Play Structure• Next Steps• Questions

3

Background• City currently manages more than 800

playstructures and another 1100 smaller play units in nearly 1000 park sites.

• In response to the Canadian Safety Standards, Play Structures are typically built for 2 main age groups:* junior- ages 2-5 and senior- children: ages 5- 12 .

• Constantly changing demographics over the 20 year life of a Play Structure requires flexibility in the design for both age groups

• Increased awareness clarifies the lack of concession for the various abilities in children

4

Background (cont’d)

• Ottawa’s typical Life Cycle Play Structure program requires replacement of 15-30 structures city-wide annually.

• There is a wide range of existing structure styles, expectations concerning replacement process, high levels of Community scrutiny and minimal staff and resources to respond

5

Background (cont’d)Existing Senior with Junior Features Existing Senior Structure

6

Lifecycle Replacement Issues:

• safety in the playground• changing demographics during the 20 year life of

the structure• child supervision challenges• changes in caregiving arrangements• advancements in trends of Early Childhood

Education and the use of learning in play• growth and development rate of children/ a wide

range of intellectual, emotional and physical capabilities

• equality and inclusion in play opportunities

7

Lifecycle Replacement Issues:• community expectation to govern playground

renovations• enabling community development opportunities• managing community pressure to expand scope

of replacement • managing community demand to increase the

number of sites replaced• maintain a robust design approach• ensure a rigorous tendering process • need to remain responsive throughout process• need for affordability• need for economy of effort

8

Solution & Benefits one structure with play value for both age

groups incorporated into the design resulting in a template of defined dimension (Integrated Play Structure) ….

• provides an equitable level of service for all playgrounds

• serves both age groups (2-5 and 5-12)* encourages cognitive, emotional, physical development * facilitates supervision ratios for primary caregivers* assists parent(s) with children in both age groups

•Addresses need for flexibility due to changing demographics

9

Solution & Benefits:

•provide more play variety and accessibility features

•streamlines tendering to reduce purchasing time/ effort

•stakeholders finalize design rather than suppliers

•help control material, manufacturing, installation, inspection and repair costs

• promote faster installation resulting in minimum disruption to playgrounds

10

Solution & Benefits

•cost approximately $25,000 for both age groups as compared to 2 separate structures costing approximately $60,000 (2005 figures)

• provide savings of approximately $300,000 annually over the next 10 years for life cycle replacements.Comment: Three (3) such structures were installed in 2005 as a pilot project and fourteen (14) structures in 2006

11

“Integrated” Play Structure Design:

12

“Integrated” Play Structure Design:

13

“Integrated” Play Structure Design:

14

2007Connecting in the Capital “Integrated” Play Structure

• Dawson Creek Playground

15

Next Steps• continue replacements in future years with the

“Integrated” Play Structure

• update our replacement program data to reflect the design strategy and reduced costs

• Continue to collect feedback from the community & City staff to permit continuous improvement on the design

16

Thank You !Questions?