A Leitchfield playground equipment company presented a bid at Monday night’s Leitchfield City Council meeting to install a new, state-of-the-art playground at Firefighter’s Memorial Park on Brandenburg Road.
The idea of expanding the popular splash pad and adding playground equipment at Firefighter’s Memorial Park was first broached by Councilman Clayton Miller at a city council meeting in June 2025. The plan was revisited by the council in early January.
The original proposal has now expanded to include the total replacement of the approximately 12,000-foot playground, including a splash pad up to three times as large as the current equipment.
The playground will also offer children with physical/mental disabilities an opportunity to enjoy being outdoors and take advantage of all the amenities an updated, sensory-sensitive play area has to offer.
Leitchfield Parks and Recreation Director Trent VanMeter in early March presented to the council a plan for the playground designed by PlayPros. To read that company’s playground plan, click here.
At Monday night’s city council meeting, Leitchfield-based Miracle Playgrounds of KY & TN, represented by Josh Wagner, put forth the company’s plan for a new playground.
“We’ve got a lot of input from council and a lot of input from the citizens of this town and the city of Leitchfield has spoken up about several things that they have let us know they were looking for,” Wagner told the council.
Wagner presented the council with two design options, with the second option the choice he recommended for the city.
“This is the design we believe is best suited for the city,” he said. “… We’re trying to create a universal design.”
The proposed playground would be 14,500 square feet (larger than the original design of 12,000-square-feet) and utilize non-static turf, a fire hose splashing onto an expanded splash pad, over 25 slides, 15 climbers, over 3,700 square feet of shade, a fire plug, three fire trucks, three racer slides (side-by-side slides), a ramped 25-foot tower with sensory panels, and sculpted 13-feet x 15-feet wide custom entrance (which pays tribute to Ronald Hudson).
One piece of equipment is fully ramped up to an eight-foot deck, giving the structure 120-feet of ramp, “from the bottom all the way to the eight-foot platform,” according to Wagner.
The only place a child in a wheelchair cannot reach are the two towers on top of the equipment.
There is also a playground area for two- to five-year-old children that includes six slides, four climbers, a 26-foot shaded area, sensory panels, and bench seats for caregivers.
There are 12 water-centric features, including a bucket that dumps water, water cannons and spray misters. Additionally, the water area has specific play zones for toddlers, families and teens.
Wagner said the all-inclusive cost of the playground design is $1.39 million.
The discussion
A motion was immediately made following Wagner’s presentation to accept Miracle’s Design 2 bid, but a discussion, initiated by Councilman Billy Dallas, ensued regarding the city having not yet cemented financing options for the playground, as Leitchfield Chief Financial Officer Sabrina Roof is currently exploring financing possibilities.
“Here’s what we’re at on it,” Dallas said. “We haven’t discussed where we’re getting the money, how much we’re going to spend, the interest rate, where we’re going to borrow it, if we’re going to cash in (a CD). I think we have some leg work to do, us, before we sit here and decide one way or the other.”
Dallas, who said he was impressed with the presentation and loved Miracle’s playground design, again underscored that the city is “getting a little ahead of the game” by voting on accepting anyone’s bid at this point.
“I’m not knocking nobody that made a proposal, but I would like to have a better leg in the game to know final prices; how much are we borrowing? Nobody can answer. Are we cashing in a CD? Nobody can answer. So, I think we’re getting a little ahead of the game. That’s my opinion … I’m not against the motion (to accept Miracle’s bid), but I just think we have due diligence to do before we get there.”
Despite Dallas’ observations concerning financing, a vote was held on whether to accept the Design 2 bid by Miracle. The vote was 3-3, with Mayor Miller breaking the tie with a “nay” vote.
(Voting for the motion were George Hack, Clayton Miller (who made the motion) and Tim Bocock. Voting against the motion were Dallas, Terri Haycraft and Tooty Cottrell.)
Dallas, showing some frustration, said after the motion to accept the bid was voted down, stated: “We don’t know how we’re paying for the darn thing. I mean, how unprofessional is that (to vote on the motion even though the financials aren’t in place).”
Dallas then made the following motion:
“I want to make a motion to proceed with revamping the Firefighter’s Memorial Park with the companies that have placed a proposal for this project.”
The motion was immediately seconded and passed 6-0.
It was revealed in the meeting by Mayor Miller that a third bid has been received for the project. No other information regarding that bid was discussed.
City Financial Officer Sabrina Roof is currently exploring financing options.
By Ken Howlett, News Director
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com
