By HOLLY GASKILL
The board of the Bluffton Parks and Recreation Department reviewed recently-opened bids for Lancaster Park in a special meeting last night.
The board endorsed three packages — the pavilion, site development, and site improvement — which will be seen at the next Board of Works meeting.
Two bids were received for every package, and the board recommended acceptance of the apparent low bid for each — Coblents Construction of Geneva for the first package at $210,600, Frauhiger Excavating of Bluffton for the second package at $228,000, and Brooks Construction of Fort Wayne for the third package at $99,983.
Habig Trucking of Bluffton was first thought to have the low bid for site development at $223,000, but it was later discovered that the package was incomplete and ineligible for consideration.
Conor Jackson, project manager, noted that the bid packages includes all of the project’s ideal features from local businesses and are under budget. However, Jackson stated some additional costs may come from unsuitable site soils and paving.
The new park project has been made possible through a more than $600,000 grant the Parks Department received last year. Plans for the park include a half-mile walking path with benches, a pavilion with restrooms and a drinking fountain, a dual-use football/soccer field, a 9-hold dual-use foot golf/disc golf course, two sand volleyball courts, a lighted basketball court, playground, Gaga ball court, giant human foosball court, two sets of cornhole boards, solar-powered charging station, bike repair station and trailhead seating with a fire pit.
Department Superintendent Brandy Fiechter said she would anticipate the project being able to start in one to two months after getting through the paperwork and processes.
holly@news-banner.com
