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6.B. - Page 2 of 8
<br />City staff met with the co-founders of the Magical Bridge Foundation and learned about their vision, the
<br />concepts for the specially designed zones to allow people of all abilities to use the park, their community
<br />engagement process, donor outreach, and learnings from their initial project. We found that building
<br />a caring and accepting community benefits everyone, and a park and playground is a powerful place
<br />to start.
<br />When given the chance to play side by side inclusively, children with disabilities enjoy a lifetime of
<br />greater acceptance by their peers, balanced and satisfying relationships, and show marked progress
<br />behaviorally. They also improve their social skills, motor strength, self-control, and self-esteem. The
<br />benefits for children without disabilities are also profound. They develop a reduced fear of human
<br />differences accompanied by increased awareness and personal principles. They learn to form warm
<br />and caring relationships through increased confidence and compassion.
<br />The opportunity to play with others helps strengthen and maintain physical, emotional, psychological,
<br />and social well-being for us all.
<br />On September 12, 2016, the City Council approved an agreement with the Magical Bridge
<br />Foundation to create this universal playground in Red Morton Park. Since this time, City staff, SSA,
<br />and the Magical Bridge Team have been working diligently on community outreach efforts,
<br />fundraising, research, play equipment lists, and design options.
<br />On August 28, 2017, the City Council approved Amendment No. 1 to the original agreement for
<br />$341,530 due to the extensive change in time and scope of this project. On March 14, 2018, the City
<br />Council approved Amendment No. 2 to the original agreement for $180,909 due to the additional
<br />scope including for the re -bidding of the project.
<br />ANALYSIS
<br />On October 22, 2018, the Magical Bridge Playground project was awarded to Bothman Construction
<br />Company. The project, a collaboration with Magical Bridge Foundation, was awarded as a base bid, and
<br />no alternates were awarded. The five alternates included improvements and site furnishings such as a
<br />restroom building, large trees, planting, boulders, carpentry, BBQs, and picnic tables. Given the high cost
<br />of the alternates, the City chose to take on the work to save money and reject the alternates.
<br />While this approach does cost less, it does require City staff, consultants, sub -consultants and third party
<br />inspectors to oversee the work. In addition, unexpected existing conditions such as electrical lines and
<br />clay sewer pipes not shown on the Red Morton Park plan as -built plans (from the 1970s) and heavy tree
<br />roots have required careful calculations and modifications to the construction plans. This has resulted in
<br />the additional scope of work for SSA Landscape Architects, the lead consultant and the firm's sub -
<br />consultants. The amendment to the SSA agreement of $235,524 is specifically for the construction support
<br />phase and includes geotechnical inspections required for the earthwork and the expansive concrete
<br />retaining walls. Details of the scope of services can be found in Attachment A.
<br />As project construction continues, staff is finalizing the artist feature agreements, and staff will need to
<br />procure trees, boulders, and other materials and site furnishings to complete project.
<br />City of Redwood City 1017 Middlefield Road, Redwood City, CA. 94063 Tel: 650-780-7000 www.redwoodcity.ore
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