City Council approves playground equipment purchase for Yelm Highway Community Park 

To save approximately $70,000, the Olympia City Council approved the early purchase of playground equipment for the future Yelm Highway Community Park.  

A resolution was approved on Tuesday, Dec. 16, as part of the council’s consent agenda. It authorizes the city to purchase and install playground equipment through a Sourcewell cooperative purchasing contract.  

The agreement is with Landscape Structures, Inc., with a total cost of $562,140.64. Funding will come from a combination of federal grant funds and City Parks Capital Funds.  

The playground is going to feature two age-separated play areas, one for children ages 2 to 5 and another for those ages 5 to 12. It is designed to accommodate users of different abilities.

Rubberized, poured-in-place surfacing is going to be used to improve accessibility for mobility devices and reduce fall-related injury risks. Installation services are included in the purchase.  

According to a staff report, using the Sourcewell cooperative purchasing contract allows the city to secure a discounted price, saving nearly $42,000 compared to the equipment’s list price.

By placing the order before the end of 2025, the city avoids an anticipated price increase of about 5% scheduled for Jan. 1, 2026, resulting in additional savings of more than $28,000.  

The resolution noted the city reviewed multiple playground options and vendors to ensure compliance with safety standards, accessibility requirements and community needs.

Landscape Structures, Inc. is going to be responsible for designing, manufacturing and installing the playground equipment. The Berger Partnership, the city’s landscape architecture consultant, designed the playground layout and integrated it into the overall park plan.  

The Yelm Highway Community Park has been identified as a priority site for improvements by the Olympia Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee. Groundbreaking is scheduled for the first quarter of 2026. Construction is going to proceed under the park master plan approved by the city council in 2022.  

The playground is part of Phase 1 improvements, which also include a synthetic turf field with lighting, pickleball courts, a picnic shelter, restrooms, a fenced dog park, basketball courts, a mini-pitch soccer field with interactive digital play features, as well as a park maintenance facility.  

City staff noted the project has drawn strong community interest, as it is going to deliver long-awaited recreational amenities and reflects strong fiscal stewardship by securing playground equipment early and through cooperative purchasing.