FOLLOWUP: Hiawatha play-area project finally going out to bid

(2019 photo, old Hiawatha play area)

While Hiawatha Community Center‘s stabilization/renovation project nears its end, five years after the center closed, another nearby project is just about to start – the overhaul of the Hiawatha play area. Parks has just told a longtime project watchdog that the play-area work will finally go out to bid next week, with the bid notice scheduled to be made public on Wednesday (February 11) and bids to be opened in early March. This project also has been in the works for 6+ years. As we reported a year ago, the most-recent delay was blamed on stormwater regulations (which you might recall also have been blamed for holdups in the Morgan Junction Park Addition project).

Justin February 6, 2026 (12:57 pm)

IMHO that playground is fine as is. My kids love it and it’s perfect. Let it be.

Curious George February 6, 2026 (4:26 pm)

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Don’t worry Justin at the rate our Parks Dept and the City goes you’re kids will be out of college by the time this happens.
Alex February 6, 2026 (5:44 pm)

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I agree. Every new playground is one of three designs just copied all over the city. Only the old ones have any variety.

onion February 6, 2026 (5:48 pm)

We should start a lottery on how long it takes to actually complete this project. The Parks Department’s record on completing projects in a timely manner is not impressive (to put it politely).

Kyle February 7, 2026 (8:18 am)

Will the wading pool be replaced with a splash pad? Parks, despite its own Parks district funding, refuses to adequately staff a teenager to fill the pool and monitor the chlorine for the full summer. Last year the Highland Park splash pad, which does not require an attendant, was open 100+ days. Hiawatha wading pool, less than 30.

Admiral2009 February 7, 2026 (2:00 pm)

Two gripes:

1. The existing play structure has lighting making it more useable during the winter. During the process, I requested that the new structure also have lighting that did not happen.

2. The existing swings are perfectly fine and popular with the older kids. Many people requested that they remain only to be ignored by City Park’s staff.

On a positive, by the time the City completes the project my eight year old daughter will be in College!

Admiral2009 February 7, 2026 (6:20 pm)

Two gripes:

The existing play structure has lighting, I attended an open house on the proposal and requested that lighting be provided for the new structure that did not happen.

Also at the open house many people requested that the existing perfectly good swings that are very popular with older kids be left alone. City staff ignored this request also.