title
Recommendation to City Council to Adopt a Resolution Authorizing Staff to Submit an Application for a Funding Initiative through GameTime and Establish Culver West Alexander Park as a National Demonstration Site that Prioritizes Inclusion, Nature Integration, and Physical Activity.
body
Meeting Date: July 1, 2025
Contact Person/Dept: Ted Stevens/PRCS Department
Phone Number: (310) 253-6682
Fiscal Impact: Yes [X] No [] General Fund: Yes [] No [X]
Public Hearing: [] Action Item: [] Attachments: []
Public Notification: (Email) Meetings and Agendas - Parks, Recreation and Community Services Commission (06/26/2025) ; (E-Mail) Parks, Recreation & Community Services Department Updates (06/26/2025)
Department Approval: Ted Stevens, PRCS Director (06/26/2025)
_____________________________________________________________________
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends Parks, Recreation and Community Services (PRCS) Commission recommend to City Council to adopt a resolution authorizing staff to submit an application for a funding initiative through GameTime and establish Culver West Alexander Park as a National Demonstration Site (NDS) that prioritizes inclusion, nature integration, and physical activity.
BACKGROUND
The California Parks and Recreation Society (CPRS) along with the companies GameTime, PlayCore, Great Western Recreation, and MRC Recreation created an education and funding initiative to promote healthy play and to support the creation of evidence-based play and recreation spaces across California. The three targets for the initiative are:
• Education: Professional development events train parks and recreation professionals and landscape architects on the role of play in building healthier communities.
• Collaboration & Funding: GameTime offers funding assistance to support the needs of communities to create high-quality outdoor play and recreation destinations that align with evidence-based designs that promote health.
• Impact & Advocacy: Recognize communities for turning research into practice and share site-specific reports and statewide collective outcomes to demonstrate impact and support play and recreation as an essential service.
As part of the initiative, playgrounds in need of repair and renovation can become an NDS recognized playground. Throughout California, NDS playgrounds exemplify evidence-based best practices in design and implementation, support health-related initiatives, and provide meaningful ways for community stakeholders to gather and share data. There are five NDS programs that help communities turn research into practice- each supported by evidence-based design criteria.
• 7 Principles of Inclusive Playground Design applies a comprehensive design philosophy to innovate outdoor play environments where both physical and social inclusion can occur to the greatest extent possible. These principles, the industry’s only evidence-based guidelines, specifically address experiences in outdoor play environments that develop the whole child, enhance the entire environment, and ultimately benefit the whole community.
• Play On! promotes active play through the developmental progression of skills incorporating the six key elements of play: swinging, sliding, climbing, brachiating, spinning, and balancing. The Play On! program equips educators and recreation professionals with evidence-based design best practices to enhance fitness and health. It maximizes the value of school and community playgrounds by improving recess, physical education, before/after school programs, camps, and other events.
• NatureGrounds aims to revolutionize playground development by deliberately integrating nature into play spaces, enhancing children’s play and providing high-quality experiences across generations. NatureGrounds environments enhance play value, learning, child development, health, and wellness, and environmental sustainability. Naturalized playgrounds offer visual interest, shade, comfort, and rich outdoor education and programming opportunities for schools and parks.
• Outdoor Adult Fitness offers new ways to make physical activity more available and accessible through the 5 elements of a well-rounded workout: aerobic activation, muscle development, core development, balance, and flexibility. These elements help people stick to fitness routines and engage in more moderate to vigorous physical activity.
• Pathways for Play aims to integrate play into walkable, bikeable pathway networks. Research shows that playful pathways attract children and families, significantly increasing use frequency and duration. Pathways for Play NDA add play elements to trails, greenways, and parks, motivating children, families, and youth organizations to engage in healthy, stimulating outdoor activities.
To qualify for 100% matching fund assistance, the list price of the qualifying playground system must exceed $40,000, be used towards the purchase of a qualified playground structure through GameTime and be purchased with cash with the order. Freight, installation, surfacing, material surcharges, elements that are not provided directly through GameTime, and applicable sales tax are not included as part of the funding program. In order to be considered as an NDS, the project site must have two priority outcomes incorporated into the project’s design and based on the 5 NDS programs.
DISCUSSION
In section 7 “Prioritization, Costs, and Funding” of the Culver City Parks Plan, which was adopted by City Council on February 10, 2025, the following factors are used to consider when the PRCS Department prioritizes projects.
• The Park is in an area with historically lower investment.
• Park is in proximity to Equity Focused Neighborhood.
• Project increases services in parks with high pressure.
• Project helps achieve the Parks Plan Vision, Mission, and Goals.
• Project aligns with available local, state, or federal funding mechanisms.
Culver West Alexander Park meets each of these areas of prioritization, and the playground meets the requirements to be an NDS playground. The priority outcomes identified by PRCS staff, which are needed to be considered an NDS playground are:
• Physical health outcomes: a place for active play at a variety of challenge levels
• Equity outcomes: a place that is inclusive for all abilities, ages, races, and identities
The redesign of the Culver West Alexander Park playground is estimated at $823,836. This is based on a general concept for the new playground that will be finalized through a community meeting at the park so that residents can share their thoughts and recommendations for the playground. The funding initiative could cover up to $110,823 depending on the final design after community input. In order to receive the funding, GameTime would be the sole source for the playground equipment.
Included in the new design is a repurposing of the climbing wall, which was donated by Mrs. Andy Alexander, the wife of the late Richard “Alex” Alexander who the park is named. Mr. Alexander was a Parks and Recreation Commission and played a key role in the City’s redevelopment efforts, including the establishment of the Redevelopment Agency.
FISCAL ANALYSIS
The adopted budget for Fiscal Year 2025-2026 includes funding in CIP P014 (Park Playground Rehabilitation) to support the rehabilitation of the playground at Culver West Alexander Park with the funding from GameTime to cover the remaining costs. There is not enough money to pay for the playground solely through City funds.
ATTACHMENT
None.
MOTION
That the Parks, Recreation and Community Services Commission:
Recommend to City Council to adopt a Resolution authorizing staff to submit an application for funding initiative through GameTime and establish Culver West Alexander Park as a National Demonstration Site that Prioritizes Inclusion, Nature Integration, and Physical Activity.