City staff told the Concord City Council on Aug. 12 that work on several parks and recreation projects funded by the voter-approved general obligation bond is underway and on schedule, while others remain in design or are being coordinated to reduce costs.

Sheila (Capital Projects) delivered the month’s bond update and said investment earnings increased by $139,139 since the prior month and that overall cost estimates remain about $1.5 million under the bond program budget. She reviewed completed projects and those under construction, and outlined near-term steps for projects still in design.

"This information has been updated. The update is to investment earnings. They increased 139,139, over the last month as of eight four twenty 25," Sheila said, noting the packet also included the Academy Gibson athletic fields item on the council agenda that evening.

Completed bond projects listed by staff included the Academy at McGinnis Aquatic Center and Dorton Park. Ongoing construction was reported at Marvin Caldwell Park, which staff said remained on schedule for completion in late spring or early summer of 2026, and at J.E. Jim Ramsor Park, where mobilization and stormwater work were starting.

Staff sought council approval that night to proceed with construction of the Academy Gibson athletic fields and said design work continues on a traffic garden adjacent to those fields. Sheila said the Academy Gibson timeline anticipates about one year from notice to proceed to project completion after council approval and contract execution.

Sheila also reported the Hartzell Park restroom replacement will proceed; a prefabricated restroom vendor Cam Grading and Hauling submitted the lowest bid at $269,500 and staff was preparing a contract. Demolition of the burned restroom had already occurred. She said the Hartzell restroom bidding and some other projects will be coordinated with Academy Gibson athletic field timing to limit programmatic impacts on local baseball and softball programs during construction.

Other bond projects in design or pre-bid stages include the Dave Phillips Activity Center Park, the Academy skate park/pump track/sculpture garden and the Poplar Tent Trailhead Park, which requires further coordination on Duke Energy easements and NCDOT driveway approvals. The Wilson Street, W W Flow and Academy Recreation Center projects remain in earlier design phases with later design starts planned through 2026 and 2027.

Sheila said staff had updated and reordered the program timeline to reflect completed projects and internal coordination decisions and that the timeline remains fluid as bids and designs proceed.