New Sprayground Coming to Rennebohm Park in Summer 2025

Image credit: City of Madison

Good news! Thanks to a generous donation and the ongoing support of the Madison Parks Foundation, the fully accessible playground at Rennebohm Park will soon be renamed the Jeff Erlanger Accessible Playground and Sprayground at Rennebohm Park. The Madison Parks Division, in partnership with the consultant Parkitecture + Planning, is finalizing design plans for the exciting new sprayground addition. Located to the west of the new inclusive playground, the sprayground will create a seamless play space, provide relief from the summer heat, and feature inclusive play elements that complement the success of the playground. The design also includes a shaded seating area, allowing caregivers to monitor activities in both spaces.

The sprayground will feature a solar-powered, flow-through system, meaning the water will not be reused. The design incorporates several features to ensure water is used as efficiently as possible. While the team explored the possibility of reusing the water, they determined it was not feasible due to regulations requiring the water to be treated before being used on garden crops. Reusing the water would also introduce additional complexity and infrastructure, raising both project and long-term maintenance costs. Updates will be posted on the Madison Parks project website as they become available.

The Adopted 2024 Capital Budget initially included $250,000 in private donation funding for the playground’s construction. However, after further evaluation of the initial designs and scope, the estimated project cost has increased to $550,000. I am sponsoring a budget amendment  (File# 86187), to be introduced on November 26, that will amend the 2024 Adopted Budget to accept an additional $150,000 in private donations and recognize the updated total cost of $550,000. About 75% of the project costs will be covered by generous donations to the Madison Parks Foundation, with the remaining costs funded by existing budget authority within the Parks Division budget, so no additional City funds are required. The proposed amendment will allow staff to bid the project with the goal of completing construction by the summer of 2025.

Additionally, the Madison Parks Foundation has established an endowment to cover future maintenance and repair costs. This project will be a fantastic addition to the community and could potentially serve as a model for other parks in the system, utilizing the same funding approach.

Related news:
Moe, Doug. "New Accessible Playground Honors Late Friend of Mister Rogers." Madison Magazine, September 25, 2023. https://www.channel3000.com/madison-magazine/new-accessible-playground-honors-late-friend-of-mister-rogers/article_00263bae-595b-11ee-ad18-7bddb2167aa0.html.