Trustees in Weston Approve Spending for New Playground Equipment

Monday, November 6th, 2023 -- 8:00 AM

(Mike Leischner, WSAU) Trustees in Weston have approved spending up to $800,000 for new playground equipment in seven Village parks next year.

According to Mike Leischner with WSAU, Parks and Recreation Director Shawn Osterbrink says he doesn’t expect to spend that much, however. The motion was made based on pricing for multiple trips to and from the village to haul equipment and install, but he expects that if they ask for the work to be done in one trip over several days they’ll get a better price.

The current bids, which range from $613,000 to $792,000 are for seven different projects completed at seven different times. “Overhead costs in general like mobilization and trucking; you know, having a crew here for three or four weeks straight versus them traveling back and forth,” said Osterbrink.

Osterbrink explained that the department received multiple quotes because they didn’t know if leaders would prefer to have all of the projects done at once or have the job broken up over multiple years. Village President Mark Maloney and others immediately said let’s get this done at once.

Thursday’s motion authorizes Osterbrink to go back to the companies that have already bid and ask them for their final, best price for the equipment and to perform the installation in all seven parks at one time.

The decision was made in a special board meeting to allow the Village to lock in prices for 2024 before they go up later this month.

Feel free to contact us with questions and/or comments.