Here is a rendering of the new Shanghai Garden Park Playground area that is expected to be completed within three months.

YUBA CITY, CA (MPG) - Yuba City officials are prioritizing childhood safety, approving more than a quarter million dollars for the Shanghai Garden Park Playground Replacement Project.

The call for new equipment came after two residents raised concerns about the 24-year-old play equipment at an August 2023 meeting, calling the apparatus “worn out and unsafe.”

Yuba City Community Service director Ann Gillen presented Mayor Shon Harris and councilmembers with the project specifications and renderings on Feb. 20, explaining the typical lifespan of playground equipment is 15 to 20 years.

“After inspecting and evaluating the safety of the equipment, our Parks Department recommended removing the 5 through 12-aged playground immediately,” Gillen said.

Yuba City Community Service director Anne Gillen explains to city officials that the park replacement project entails buying new equipment for $130,000. 

District 3 Councilmember Michael Pasquale said he visited the site directly after the August meeting.

“I went out the next day and several parents gave a lot of really good input, walked me through the park and showed me what was going on,” Pasquale said.

In September 2023, council members authorized removing the equipment and reallocated funds to cover the cost of a new playground. In November 2023, the Dixon City Parks Department held a community meeting, presenting up to four replacement options, with Shanghai Garden Park neighborhood residents picking their preference.

The project costs $130,000 to replace equipment, $50,000 for a town center fountain, and $78,940,76 for well installations and upgrades, totaling $258,940.76. However, Gillen said the town center projects and well upgrades will take longer to complete.

According to Gillen, the alternative would be to go out for a bid on the project. District 2 Councilmember Marc Boomgaarden supported the idea but questioned the future safety of other citywide playground equipment.

 “Are we putting aside funds to replace these, given that we know the lifespan, so we don’t get hit if you will,” Boomgaarden asked.

City finance director Spencer Morrison explained that the replacement equipment money comes from the General Fund as much as possible, which started years ago under former Parks Department director Brad McIntire.

Yuba City financial director Spencer Morrison said that the funds for the new playground equipment will come out of the general budget. 

“We as a council should be taking a look at that annually as well just to make sure the numbers are fresh, and wherever we can fund, we can fund,” Boomgaarden said.

Vice-Mayor Dave Shaw asked for a budgetary schedule for future equipment replacements.

“A projection for the next 10 to 15 years since we have been using CBG (community block grant) money and everything else to fix the parks,” Shaw said.

District-At-Large Councilmember Wade Kirchner commended staff for their work on the project.

“A year ago, a group of people came before us and brought a concern, and it was a safety concern,” Kirchner said, adding that he regularly passes the highly-used Shanghai Garden Park.

According to Kirchner, one of the best parts of the project was involving the public.

“I think it is a home run all the way around,” Kirchner said. “This is your government at work, and it is really exciting and fun to watch.”

Harris said it “is nice" when a project proceeds so fast, which doesn’t always happen.

“We are hoping to move it quickly,” Gillen said, adding officials are hoping to have it done within two to three months.