Queen Creek kids have a new playground to look forward to at Founders’ Park.
The Queen Creek Town Council voted Wednesday to approve a $548,000 purchase agreement with Mesa-based Play It Safe Playgrounds and Park Equipment for installation of replacement playground equipment at Founders’ Park, 22407 S. Ellsworth Road.
The item originally was on the council’s consent agenda in which all measures are considered with one motion and vote. Council Member Travis Padilla asked for the playground contract to have a separate discussion and vote.
“While I understand the need for (the new equipment) I just feel like we’ve spent a lot of money in our budget on parks as it is, and for this particular reason, with all the other park spending that we’ve had, I’ll be a no vote on this one,” Padilla said.
The final vote was 6-1. Before the vote, Mayor Julia Wheatley stated there was “a safety component” to replacing the equipment.
During its Feb. 5 meeting, the council voted 6-1 to establish budgets totaling more than $2.9 million for relocating the current dog park to Founders’ Park as well as replacing the playground equipment. Padilla voted against the measure.
A town staff report emphasized the need for new play equipment at Founders’ Park.
“The existing playground was constructed in 2002 and is far beyond its useful life. In 2024 alone, repair costs for the playground exceeded $29,000 and downtime for the playground at multiple intervals through the year were up to 16 weeks,” the report stated.
The playground replacement will address Americans with Disabilities Act issues and deal with drainage problems, vandalized equipment and the “need for space and age separation for proper safety of children in different age groups,” the report continued.
The playground equipment replacement will take place in concert with the construction of the new dog park.
The current Pocket Park for Pups is south of town hall at 22526 S. Ellsworth Road.
Plans to build a new standalone Queen Creek Police Department headquarters and a parking structure that will be roughly bordered by Ellsworth Loop Road, Ellsworth Road necessitated relocating the dog park.
The new playground structure at Founders’ Park is expected to include slides, climbers, ladders, tunnels, ramps, activity panels and more. Other playground equipment will include spring riders, swings and climbers.
The project is not part of the town’s Infrastructure Improvement Plan that was adopted by the council in June 2024 because impact fees could not be used for it, the report stated. The project will be paid through the town’s operating budget.
In 2024, the town opened the 85-acre Frontier Family Park and developed a 13-acre expansion at Mansel Carter Oasis Park. On March 29, the town opened its $69 million Recreation & Aquatic Center at Frontier Family Park.
The town is not expected to open any new parks while it completes a parks master plan set for 2028.
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Janet Perez News Editor | Queen Creek &
San Tan Valley
Meet Janet Janet Perez joined Independent Newsmedia as editor of the Queen Creek Independent and Florence Independent in 2020. She started her career in 1989 with the Gannett-owned El Paso Times. In 1992, she moved to Tempe and has worked in newspapers, magazines, radio and television. She left Arizona for three years to work at New Mexico State University and Baylor University before returning to work at Arizona State University. Missing the business, she went back to journalism in 2017.
Community: A long-time pet owner, she supports animal welfare causes.
Education: University of Texas at El Paso with a BA in journalism and a minor in political science.
Random Fact: She had a head full of random facts.
Hobbies: Reading, watching documentaries, cooking and playing with her dogs.
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