Commission directs staff to rebid Gerry Ivey splash pad project with alternates after previous lone bid exceeded budget

The City Commission voted 4–1 April 14 to rebid a previously designed water‑playground proposal for Gerry Ivey Memorial Park, asking staff to include add‑alternates for a water wall feature and a law enforcement memorial.

Parks and Recreation Director Jeff Hammond summarized a review of recent splash‑pad projects and presented three options: a like‑for‑like replacement of the former 2,500‑square‑foot splash pad (estimated $650,000–$750,000); rebidding the larger “water playground” design (~3,000 square feet, 15–18 features) at an estimated $950,000–$1.2 million; or abandoning the project. Staff said the city previously received a single bid for the larger project that came in materially above budget, which led the commission in January to reject that sole bid.

Hammond said consultants surveyed comparable municipal splash pads and found wide cost variation depending on size, mechanical system (recirculating vs. pass‑through), theming and whether restrooms or shelters were bundled into the bid. A recirculation system that filters and chemically treats water on‑site was recommended by staff because it fits the city’s existing aquatic staffing and provides warmer water than a pass‑through domestic system.

Landscape architect James Schuessler of GBA (George Butler Associates) told commissioners that the water wall and other features can be designed as plug‑in alternates so the splash pad and those features can be bid and built separately if the commission later chooses to add them. Schuessler said the city could expect roughly 10–12 weeks for manufacturing after an order is placed and that staff could return a bid package within about 30–60 days for public solicitation.

Public comment included support from market and event organizers who said shade and covered features would increase downtown usability, and from the marathon festival chair who said utilities and power access are important for events. A few public commenters urged caution about maintenance costs; one speaker pointed to other local water features with maintenance challenges.

The motion before the commission asked staff to rebid the previously designed water‑playground project and include add alternates for the water wall and memorial. The motion passed 4–1; the meeting record does not list named roll‑call votes for each commissioner in the audio transcript.

Ending: Staff will prepare a rebid package with alternate bid items; GBA and city staff said they will seek a broader contractor list for more competitive bids and return to the commission with results.