Ames council directs staff to bid Ada Hayden trail replacement, close trail during construction

The Ames City Council voted Tuesday to direct staff to bid the Ada Hayden Heritage Park Trail Replacement Project and to close the trail during construction. Council action follows a staff presentation on two options for replacing the park's existing 10-foot asphalt path with a wider, 12-foot concrete path.

City staff said the change is intended to address safety and durability problems with the existing asphalt surface and to reduce long‑term maintenance. Keith (Parks Department staff) told the council that “the concrete is much more durable” and that WHKS, the city's consultant, had given preliminary cost feedback. “One contractor ... said that if we bid this project right now, we would bid $1,100,000 for the project, and we could be done in 5 to 6 weeks,” Keith said.

Why it matters: Ada Hayden Heritage Park is a heavily used recreation area; staff and some council members cited user safety around heavy construction equipment and recurring damage from tree roots and willows as reasons to prefer a short, full closure…