After five years of planning led by the Washington Park Conservancy, the City of Albany is now in charge of the playground project. Martin Daley, Director of Infrastructure Management for the City, is overseeing the project and is continuing to involve the Conservancy in an advisory capacity. Under his management, an RFP (for design) was released in early January, followed by a site walkthrough which was well attended by interested engineering and landscape architecture firms. Of the five proposals submitted and reviewed, the project was awarded to Foit-Albert, whose project team is led by Declan Keane, and includes Rusty Keeler.
We are so pleased that this project will benefit from the City’s management, the playground committee’s connections to the community, WPC’s knowledge of the park and its history, and the continuity of our design team. Both Declan and Rusty have been so present in hearing and reflecting our community’s visions and are prepared to continue to develop the concept design, with the goal of opening the new playground in early fall, 2025.
Looking ahead, WPC will remain involved in the project in an advisory capacity and will collaborate with the City of Albany to engage our communities yet again for public outreach. We will be working closely with the City of Albany’s Neighborhood Engagement Units to engage communities in feedback on the final playground plan.
Stop by the Conservancy’s booth at Tulip Festival Saturday & Sunday May 11 & 12 to learn more about the project and give us feedback !
