Oct 18, 2024 Contractor has removed the old playset and mulch.  This location will be sodded next week and closed off for a few weeks to allow the sod to establish. Playset installer is scheduled to be back this month and will place rubber surfacing around the turtle too!

Oct 2, 2024  Reminder that the playset installer will be back at the playset this month to complete repairs.

Also, the contractor has started removal of the old playset.  This project should be wrapping up in the next few weeks with sod and landscaping installed as well.  Thank you for your patience while we made these improvements at Harmon Park! 

UPDATE August 2024 Furnishings are in and the pavilion is complete with the new restrooms.  Thank you for your patience while we made these improvements!

July 12, 2024 FURNISHINGS HAVE ARRIVED! Delivery is scheduled for today and the contractor will start putting together the new picnic tables and installing them.

June 11, 2024The restrooms and shelter have minor items to complete.  These include landscaping, some painting and roofing completion.  The contractor has the schedule for the JCPRD day camp and will weave their schedule through weekends and times when the day camp is absent for several hours.  If you are up at the park over the next few weekends, you may notice yellow caution tape at the pavilion with a roofer nearby; this means the other crew members are on the roof and we ask that you not be under the pavilion at this time while they complete their work.

The play area is moving along; however it will not be open for the upcoming Juneteenth celebration on June 15th.  The buffings are being installed and color duraplay (pour in place) surface will follow in the next few days.  It will be tempting to go enjoy the playset, but please remember that the equipment is not fully installed and the duraplay must cure before we open.  The photo below shows the buffings which are installed before the multi-color play surface.

 May 15, 2024: The contractor has been diligently working on the project even when rain threatens to slow progress. The project is still on schedule for a June 1, 2024 opening.  The interior of the restroom is now the focus along with completion of the sidewalk.  Paving is scheduled in the parking lot next week.

BACKGROUND
The City has contracted with Combes Construction to move forward with the new restroom and renovated pavilion at Harmon Park.  Construction has started and the contractor is making progress toward a June 1, 2024 completion date.

Below are renderings of the new restroom and renovated pavilion.

Contractor : Combes Construction for site work
                      All Inclusive Recreation for play equipment

Award amount: $1,596,000
Schedule:           fall 2023 and spring 2024

August 28, 2024 The contractor will be back after Jazzfest to plant the landscaping beds and refresh the sod.  Combes will be removing the old playset as well.  All Inclusive Recreation will be on site the week of September 23, 2024 to finalize the play area and install play surface at the turtle.  Disc golf will be restored back to 9 holes this fall.

August 12, 2024 Item 1 has been taken care of and the only item closed is #2 entrapment issue on one of the log climbers. This item along with some other non-safety related items  be addressed will be worked on this fall when the original installer comes back to complete their repairs.

July 23, 2024 The playset is open this afternoon.  A third party inspector was in earlier today and found a few items to address in the long term but no safety related issues that would cause the entire playground to be shut down. The items to be addressed will be worked on this fall when the original installer comes back to complete their repairs. At that time we will have to close one or two play areas during the repairs but the entire playset should remain open.

1. there is a "drawstring snag" spot at the top of the roller slide. 
   This will be repaired tomorrow by the vendor. 

   PW will open it up once we are notified that the repair is complete.
2. there is an entrapment on one of the log climbers. 
   This is a manufacturer's defect and the vendor/installer will need to manufacture a solution.
   PW will open it up one we are notified that the repair is complete.  

 July 12, 2024 The playset vendor and installer are back on site to make repairs.  The playground will be closed until these repairs are completed and inspected.  We apologize for the inconvenience. 

May 15, 2024 The playset vendor, All Inclusive Recreation, started on site 2 weeks ago and has made great progress even with what feels like daily rain events.  The site work is almost completed and landscaping will be coming in the last week of May.  Keep an eye out for a changeable message board on site to let you know the official opening date for the play area! 

March 22, 2024 The contractor is making progress on the new playset with the scheduled delivery of play equipment on approximately April 1st.  This new play area and parking lot both require temperatures in the mid to high 50's for installation. The play surface requires warm temps for 3 days in a row.  Spring is around the corner and these construction items will be installed soon. 

Sept 27, 2023  Contractor has removed the existing practice courts and is grading for the new parking lot and playground.  The existing playground will not be removed until the new playground is in place.  Playground installation is scheduled for spring 2024 with pour in place surfacing.  New practice courts are in the area being considered for the Community Center Project and therefore have been put on hold until that project and its limits are determined.  In the meantime, new practice boards will be installed on the existing tennis courts as soon as they are available from the manufacturer.

Thank you for your overwhelming participation in this survey with over 400 responses.
Option #1 was chosen and the design team will work with the selected vendor for a final layout.

Click on links to open pdf of playset.

1. Tree House with "Tree" Shades

2.  Tree House with tall climber

The Governing Body initially approved the construction of the Harmon Park Inclusive Playground in the 2018 CIP cycle in the amount of $575,000.  This project cost includes design and construction of the playset only.

Since this approval, the location of the playground has been tied to two discussions involving Harmon Park: Village Square and the Civic Center. It was determined during each of these independent discussions to delay the playground construction to avoid potential construction conflicts.

The independent discussion of Village Square was completed in late 2018 with the Governing Body determining that the improvements to move forward out of the study would be the skate park, performance pad and the inclusive playset.  The independent discussion of a partnership with other local entities for a Civic Center has been paused during the current pandemic.

Recognizing that the Civic Center discussion is not complete but also that the City would like to move forward with this project, staff has reviewed the potential locations for the Inclusive Playground and is recommending a location in keeping with the 2009 Master Plan (shown in blue below).

The project would also incorporate the relocation of the practice tennis courts, relocated parking, and new internal sidewalk connectivity when removing the old playground.  This additional project scope would be funded in the CIP in 2022.

 2022 CIP UPDATE:  The 2022 CIP added $500,000 to this project to fund the additional scope as discussed above.

Historic Ruts: There are historic Santa Fe Trail ruts on site that are registered as a historic site with the State and preserved by the commitment of the City.  Please visit the Santa Fe Pavilion for more information about the trail crossing in this area.

Tiffany Hills Park | 9400 N Congress Ave, KCMO

McCoy Park | 800 N Bess Truman Pkwy, Independence MO

Wonderscope | 433 E Red Bridge Rd, KCMO (in Red Bridge Shopping Center)

Leawood City Park | 10601 Lee Blvd, Leawood KS (Leawood Aquatic Center)

 Survey Results

We received 138 responses and those results are compiled below.
Thank you for participating in the survey!

Larger photos and a preview of the questions are below.

1. The new play area will be next to the historic Santa Fe ruts and the pavilion. Below are examples of themed playgrounds; these do not represent our final theme as our playground vendor has not been chosen.  The selected theme will guide our design team and vendors.  The development of the play area will be brought forth in future public forums for feedback!

The selected theme was TREE HOUSE.  This theme received 49% of the votes with the Santa Fe Trail theme being a distant second at 21%.

A. Santa Fe Trail

B. Tree House

C. Modern (ground level play or mix of ground level with post/deck with modern colors)

D. No Theme (traditional post/deck with traditional colors)

2. Other theme not mentioned above

3. Go to any inclusive play area (we have a list of metro inclusive play areas at www.pvkansas.com/harmonpark) and you will notice the wood mulch has been replaced with artificial turf or even a smooth poured in place rubber surface. Which one of these would you prefer at our new play area?

The selected surface was COMBINATION which received 57% of the votes.

A. artificial turf

B. poured in place rubber

C. combination of both

4. Rank the following play items from 1 (most important) to 9 (least important)

The top 5 items were ranked as follows:

Playhouse
Swings (individual and for two)
Zipline
Roller slides
Rope Structure

The design team and vendors will do our best to incorporate these items in the allotted space.

Spinner

These new merry-go-rounds are installed at play level for easy access and no more shin injuries for the designated pusher!

Roller Slides

For children with sensory processing issues, the Roller Slide provides a calming sensory experience and can be incorporated into an occupational therapy protocol. Constructed entirely of steel and aluminum, it's also an ideal option when designing a playground for children with cochlear implants. (GameTime)

Roller Tables

This horizontal rolling play event lets children slide back and forth on all sides of their bodies, which  allows for proprioceptive and tactile stimulation and deep pressure, and challenges upper  body strength (inclusiveplaygrounds.net).

Zip line

Everyone can zip along with two zip options: the stand/sit and the chair.

Musical Instruments

Musical instruments can be played by young or old, novice or professional. They engage cognitive , physical and sensory development (groundsforplay).  Instruments can stand out as artistic pieces are blend in to the natural surroundings.

Swings

Swinging, swang, swung, swings.  
An inclusive park adds to the traditional toddler and belt swings, providing fun for everyone.

Rope Structure

Older children or young adults who like to climb can romp in sections with larger distances between the ropes while younger children can test their motor skills in sections with narrower distances between the ropes. Children of all ages (and sizes) are part of the play experience (playprofessionals).

 Playhouse

Playhouses represent "symbolic play" or imaginative play.  These playhouses can be anything from a store to a restaurant to the local coffee shop or gramma's house...just in one afternoon!

5.  The new play area should keep littles and bigs entertained!  For children 12+, please rank the following item from 1 (most important) to 5 (least important).

The top 3 items are ranked as follows:

Obstacle Course
Rope Climber
Rock Climber

We will do our best to incorporate these into the space. 

Rope Climber

Basketball goal

Obstacle Course

Rock Climber

Follow this link to take the survey: Harmon Park Inclusive Play Survey