$2.5 million art playground set to rise in Napa’s Fuller Park

Napa’s most expensive public art project to date, a leaf-themed playable art structure, will be built in Fuller Park over the next five months.

The current, aging playground in the park will soon be replaced by the project, entitled “Leaves on a Line,” with construction slated to start at the end of August and run through February.

The project includes a variety of elements:

• Playable art structures that resemble fallen leaves, including a rope and tension system that spans overhead.
• Slides, climbers, ladders, hammocks, net walls, swings, musical elements and spinners.
• Rubber safety surfacing that includes an interactive pattern to guide users throughout the area.
• The nearby picnic area will be rehabilitated with overhead shade, picnic tables and grill space.

The project has been in development since December 2023, after the Napa City Council approved the concept without a final design. That design was completed in 2024 by lead artist Daniel Wodarcyk after a series of public meetings with a design committee helped shape the idea.

Belmont-based Specified Play Equipment Co. was tasked with fabricating and constructing the structure in February, after the project was fully approved by the City Council.

“This project is an exciting opportunity to fuse creativity and play into our most beautiful community park that will serve our local residents for generations,” city manager Steve Potter said in a news release.

The cost of the project was a concern among some public commenters and council members at the February meeting.

That’s because the cost had doubled from how it was initially budgeted — from $1.28 million to $2.5 million. The cost increase was driven by the addition of new play features, equipment designed for children of all abilities, shade structures, and a need to dig deeper foundations than originally planned, according to city parks and recreation management analyst Ali Koenig.

Its funding includes:

• $1 million from the city’s undesignated general fund balance

• $500,000 from the city’s public art fund (developer contributions designated for public art)

• $350,000 from the playground replacement fund

• $250,000 from the city’s general fund

• $178,000 from a Proposition 68 state grant

Most council members said in February they thought the city was in a strong financial position and that the project was a much-needed investment in Napa’s families and children. The council authorized the project on a 4-1 vote.

You can reach Staff Writer Edward Booth at 707-521-5281 or edward.booth@pressdemocrat.com.