
New Playground Construction
Opening: Jan. 20, 2021
Construction to replace the 17-year-old playground at Gene Coulon Memorial Beach Park begins on October 26th. The new playground is anticipated to open in early 2021 and is funded by the Taxpayers of Washington State through a State Direct Legislative Appropriation and Renton Regional Community Foundation Charles L. Custer Renton Park Memorial Fund. The outdoor exercise equipment will also be replaced. The playground design option was chosen by community members in a survey conducted this summer. Please contact project manager Erica Schmitz or call 206-550-4503 with any questions.
Play Equipment
Thank you so much to the 931 community members who responded to the survey to select the new playground design for Gene Coulon Memorial Beach Park. Respondents were asked what they liked best about each design as well as for general feedback for the city to consider. The survey was shared on the city’s social media channels, website, and Our Renton Weekly newsletter and was available for two weeks.
Fifty-three percent (53%) of respondents preferred Option A, while Forty-seven percent (47%) preferred Option B. The community preferred Option A for its layout, variety, climbing structures, and multi-person and inclusive swings. As a result, Option A was selected as the design for the play equipment replacement.
The selected playground design provides many all-abilities components, which include a “we-saw” all-abilities see-saw, an all-abilities group swing and individual inclusive swings, super net-plex and crab trap structures.
For both the 2-5 and 5-12 age group play areas, the number of transfer-accessible and ground-accessible components significantly exceeds requirements. The charts below include more detail on the number of accessible components.
2 - 5 Age Group Area
|
Components
Required
|
|
Components
Included
|
Elevated components
accessible by transfer |
5 |
|
9 |
Accessible ground-level
components |
3 |
|
12 |
5 - 12 Age Group Area
|
Components
Required
|
|
Components
Included
|
Elevated components
accessible by transfer |
10 |
|
16 |
Accessible ground-level
components |
6 |
|
21 |
Survey Results: Other Comments
One of the top comments received was a request for rubberized poured in place surfacing rather than engineered wood fiber (EWF) safety surfacing. The existing EWF safety surfacing is proposed to be replaced with new EWF and complies with American Disability Act standards for playground surfacing. Rubberized surfacing is not possible at Coulon due to the high water table and associated drainage concerns. However, the new Sunset Neighborhood Park play area will have rubberized safety surfacing, and it is also being evaluated for use at the Liberty Park playground, which is also planned for replacement.
Other common requests included a splash park or spray park. This amenity is beyond the scope of this playground replacement and the guarded swim beach at Coulon provides the opportunity for water play at the park. A mist water feature at the new Sunset Neighborhood Park is currently under construction.
Finally, exercise equipment for adults was frequently requested. The existing exercise equipment adjacent to the Coulon Park play area is planned for replacement as part of the playground replacement project.
Project Funding and Timeline
As part of the 2019-2021 State Capital Budget, a Direct Appropriation grant was awarded to completely fund Gene Coulon Memorial Beach Park Play Equipment Replacement Project. This grant funding allows the City to complete the replacement of the existing 17-year-old play equipment.
The project includes removing and replacing the existing play equipment, safety surfacing, and improving subsurface drainage for the play area. Construction is planned for this coming fall/winter.