Families near Lower Sellmeyer Park are getting a new playground after Highland Village City Council approved a $164,009 contract with GameTime/Cunningham at its Tuesday, July 28 meeting.

The project is funded through the city's 2022 bond program, separate from the General Fund that faces a projected $1.6 million deficit for fiscal year 2026-27. Replacing the playground was the top priority residents identified during a public engagement process that began with a community meeting in November 2025.

The city collected feedback through emails, phone calls, and two rounds of surveys before landing on a final design. A second survey, open from April 23 through May 11, drew 235 responses.

Council reviewed concept designs from two vendors before selecting GameTime/Cunningham's "Option E," which includes a picnic table near a newly replaced barbecue grill. The contract carries an additional 5% contingency on top of the base price.

GameTime, based in Fort Payne, Alabama, partners with Cunningham Recreation as its Texas-area dealer and installer.

The Parks and Recreation Advisory Board recommended the project before it reached Council for a vote. The city said the playground replacement was guided by extensive public engagement and that residents identified a new playground as the top priority, according to its recap of the July 28 meeting.

Other council business

At the same meeting, Council member Rhonda Hurst was appointed to fill a vacancy on the Animal Shelter Advisory Committee. City Manager Paul Stevens reminded residents that the deadline to apply for a city board or commission is Friday, July 31; applications are available at highlandvillage.org/volunteer.

What's next

No construction start date or completion timeline has been announced. The next Council meeting is Tuesday, August 11, at 7 p.m. at the Municipal Complex Council Chambers, 1000 Highland Village Road, where the agenda includes the Utility Fund and consideration of the tax rate for the upcoming fiscal year.