Grand Traverse County Parks & Recreation commissioners approved a design for a new playground for the Grand Traverse County Civic Center Thursday.

Commissioners unanimously approved a playground proposal submitted by Penchura/Landscape Structures, one of three designs the board received and put out to a community vote. The playground design features multiple structures with slides and climbing equipment, swingsets, balance beams, an extensive zipline and a children's climbing wall. The design is tailored to ages 2-12, according to the company’s proposal.

Penchura’s proposal also received the greatest support from community members. Parks & Recreation Director Kristine Erickson said of 600 votes the county received through an online survey, Penchura’s design received 329 votes, or 54.8 percent. A proposal from Miracle Midwest received 37 votes, or 6.2 percent, while a design submitted by Sinclair Recreation received 219 votes, or 35.5 percent. (Another 15 voters chose “other” for a design option.)

Commissioner David Grams, a teacher with Glen Lake Community Schools, said students he showed the designs to overwhelming favored Penchura’s design. “Kids are looking for a different experience than they can get at other playgrounds,” Grams explained, citing the long zipline feature and climbing wall showcased in Penchura’s design. "I see more choices of original conceptual pieces with (this design)." Commissioners also pointed out Penchura’s experience supplying playground equipment to Disney and Epcot Center, calling it a testament to the company’s quality and safety record.

The parks department has budgeted $150,000 for the playground, which will be located just west of the former Kids Kove site near the Civic Center restrooms. The playground will be 100 percent funded by private donations. $52,000 has already been raised for the project, and the county plans to launch a crowdfunding campaign at the beginning of April through Patronicity to raise another $50,000. If the county meets that goal, Patronicity will provide a $50,000 match.

Penchura’s design bid came in at just over $129,000, a proposal that includes a budgetary cushion for equipment add-ons. Commissioners said Thursday they planned to study that possibility, keeping the main design intact but exploring adding a few additional pieces of equipment that were either popular in other designs or are heavily supported by residents.

The playground is also considered to be a “phase one” design, meaning there is room to expand the facility or add more equipment in the future. Erickson noted that while the playground is required to be compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), future expansion phases could make the project universally accessible, an even higher designation.

Provided that fundraising is successful this spring, Parks & Recreation hopes to install and open the playground by this summer. Erickson said Thursday the department's “ambitious timeline” was to open in time for a dedication during the National Cherry Festival, which is scheduled for July 2-9.