City to install new playground at Maplewood Park

Facility set to open this fall.

By Drew Dotson • August 1, 2025 7:30 am

Maplewood Park will have a new playground for kids to enjoy this fall.

The Renton City Council approved a contract with Allplay Systems LLC to build a new playground at Maplewood Park for $331,808.43.

The existing playground in the park at 3400 SE Sixth St. is approximately 20 years old. Renton Capital Projects Manager Betsy Severtsen said the playground is on its last leg and is beginning to be a safety issue.

“A lot of the plastisol covering on some of the platforms is just eaten away at this point and is starting to rust. There could be some failure of the equipment itself,” Severtsen said.

Severtsen said they find when they let their park infrastructure go, they notice more graffiti and abuse of the equipment itself.

“We need to invest in things and show that we are caring for them and replacing them as needed,” Severtsen said.

Severtsen also said this park currently has a ADA accessibility issue at the ballfield because the ADA seating does not have an accessible walkway, and that is an issue that are planning to address.

Severtsen said they reached out to the community early on for suggestions to make a better playground for their needs. Some of the additions the community wanted were a larger playground area, more trees for shade and separate areas for younger and older kids.

“We prefer to split out age groups a little bit. We’ll have a play structure that is meant mostly for kids ages two to five and then another larger one for kids that are over age five,” Severtsen said. “When we have the room to do that, we prefer to because we often hear the need for protection of the little ones.”

When the city sent out a request for bids, they received bids from seven vendors. After receiving feedback on 11 design options from the community, the city decided on Allplay Systems, whom Severtsen said was the “obvious winner” from feedback.

“The neighborhood really liked the variety they had. They didn’t love some of the colors,” Severtsen said. “Changing the colors is an easy thing to do.”

Severtsen said Allplay Systems also had a promotion that will allow them to get a few of the playground components for free, such as a spinner and the swings.

“It’s going to add more playability and variety at this site,” Severtsen said. “We heard a lot from the kids and the parents about what they are looking for and how they use the playground now.”

Severtsen estimated it will take 8 to 10 weeks between when Allplay sends the procurement request to when the equipment will arrive on site.

“Our schedule for construction is to close down the playground portion of the park after school starts,” Severtsen said. “If all goes well, the play equipment will arrive and they can install it once they are about 8 to 10 weeks in. So early to mid-fall, we can open up the playground again.”