City outlines outdoor phase of Magic Park and funding; construction bids to follow

City Parks and Recreation Director Ken Sherbedo and design/construction partners gave City Council an update on the outdoor Phase 1 elements tied to the Community Recreation Center on Sept. 15, reporting that design is roughly 95% complete and that grants and private donations have largely funded planned outdoor elements.

What was described: the Phase 1 scope includes a year‑round multipurpose synthetic turf field, the Berkey Pavilion (an outdoor events pavilion adjacent to the community space), connecting paths, parking improvements and landscaping. The presentation highlighted renderings showing indoor‑to‑outdoor connections intended to make the recreation center a year‑round campus and to increase field reservation capacity.

Funding and schedule: Ken Sherbedo said the city has secured multiple grants and donations — including GOCO funding, foundation gifts (the Daniels Foundation was named) and proceeds from a prior land sale earmarked for the Berkey Pavilion — that together fund most of Phase 1 construction. Staff estimated outdoor construction costs between $2.4 million and $2.8 million, plus roughly $400,000 in design/soft costs; the exact bid total will be determined after formal subcontractor bids in the coming weeks.

Next steps: staff said they plan to present a proposed change order to the general contractor (FCI) to add the outdoor Phase 1 scope to the GMP; that change‑order request is expected to come to council at the Oct. 15 meeting. Construction is timed to avoid duplication with Colorado Department of Transportation work nearby and to coordinate with completion of the indoor recreation center (projected late 2026 opening for CRC main building). Council asked detailed questions about site access, irrigation (an existing irrigation pond will serve the site), use scheduling and how the turf field would relieve pressure on other community fields.

Why it matters: the synthetic turf field is a frequently requested amenity by user groups for year‑round practice and play; the pavilion and improved circulation are intended to increase community activation, reduce weekend field congestion elsewhere and provide new space for events.

Ending: staff asked council to anticipate a change‑order request on Oct. 15 and said they will return with final bid tabulations and contract language for council review. Council members thanked staff and the design/construction team for the coordination and outreach that landed grants and private support.