Newport is considering additional upgrades to Mansion Hill Park, including new landscaping, pathways, fencing and improvements to the park’s shelter.
Newport Assistant City Manager Brian Steffen presented early design concepts for the park at 524 3rd St. to the Newport City Commission on Sept. 28, building on previously approved plans for new playground equipment and a poured-in-place rubber playground surface. The updates are part of a broader effort to give the space a more cohesive look.
“We’ve also been working with a designer to help give us some guidance on fit and finish of the park, the overall quality and just some cohesiveness of the park’s design itself,” Steffen said.
The concepts are preliminary, and Steffen said that not everything shown in the renderings will necessarily be built; However, they provide a starting point as Newport determines what other improvements could accompany the playground project.
One option is to fix up the park’s existing covered shelter with stone columns and additional trim work.
“Those things don’t cost a whole lot of money, but add a lot of value with some visual interest,” Steffen said.
The city is also considering new pathways made from stamped concrete or pavers, benches, signage and a more clearly defined entrance to the park. Existing fencing that Steffen said is damaged and worn would also be replaced, including chain-link fencing along the alley.
Landscaping could be added throughout the park, although Steffen said that the plants should require minimal upkeep.
The concepts also show artificial turf around the outside of the playground area, where frequent foot traffic could otherwise wear down natural grass and create muddy areas. Other portions of the park would remain natural sod.
The upgrades would accompany approximately $88,797 in new playground equipment previously approved by the city. Newport received a $48,462.50 matching grant through the 2026 GameTime Community Champions program toward the equipment.
Earlier this month, the commission also approved a poured-in-place rubber playground surface for an amount not to exceed $102,326, although Steffen previously said savings could bring the final price closer to $82,000. The approximately 3,715-square-foot surface will replace wood chips originally planned for the playground.
The playground will feature separate play structures for children ages 2 to 5 and 5 to 12. The existing swing structure will remain but will be recoated and receive new swings.
The city said that the design work at Mansion Hill could also help guide future improvements elsewhere in Newport’s park system.
“The quality of those amenities (parks) are why people live in communities,” Newport Mayor Tom Guidugli Jr. said during the first reading for the park equipment. “So we need to continue to improve that, grow it and do this work that we’re doing right now.”
