Consultant: underground detention would add $1 million; parks staff recommend dry basin to keep J.R. Smith Park under $3 million

Parks staff reporting to the Parks Committee said a design consultant provided a cost estimate for the J.R. Smith Park project that showed converting an above‑ground dry basin to underground detention storage under the parking area would cost approximately $1,000,000.

Alyssa, parks staff, told the committee the department asked the consultant to consider underground detention as an alternative to a dry basin. “The cost to put underground, parking storage is a million dollars,” Alyssa said. Based on that estimate, staff recommended using the above‑ground dry basin approach that had been presented conceptually to the committee earlier in the design process.

Staff said the park receives water well in heavy rains and that the project will include drainage pipes to move water through the site. The parks staff stated that the dry basin approach is consistent with the previously shared conceptual designs and that choosing the dry basin would keep the project within the $3,000,000 budget the committee has previously discussed.

Staff also said final plans for J.R. Smith Park are due in October. The committee did not take a formal vote at the meeting; staff presented the recommendation and will proceed with design work aimed at the budgeted total unless the committee directs otherwise.