Council awards Unity Park basketball court contract after debate over soils, costs and lighting

Highland Village — The City Council voted 4–1 on April 7 to authorize a contract with DHC Concrete Construction and Restoration, through the TIPS cooperative, to build an outdoor basketball court at Unity Park for $197,750.

The project is part of a parks bond allocation that had $230,000 tentatively budgeted for a court and lighting. Council and staff agreed the contract covers the court slab, surfacing and markings, installation of four goals, a five‑foot sidewalk to the parking lot, striping and minor landscaping repairs. Lighting was discussed as a separate future phase; staff estimated lighting could add roughly $30,000 but said that estimate requires further study.

Presenter (parks/engineering staff) described the court as 62 feet by 106 feet with four goals (one on each side) and said engineering and a geotechnical soils report recommended a slab‑on‑grade design with interior and exterior grade beams to tolerate anticipated differential soil movement. The engineer’s design followed the soils recommendations, staff said. The city’s estimate for earthwork was about $40,000 and concrete and foundation costs were the largest single line items in the contractor’s bid.

City staff said they originally issued a large bundled bid for several Unity Park projects but received no bids and then split the work into smaller scopes. Three cooperative bids were reviewed: Craftsman (about $247,000), Dobbs Tennis (a lower price that staff rejected for not following the engineered plans) and DHC Concrete Construction and Restoration at $197,750; staff recommended awarding to DHC.

Council members asked detailed procurement and technical questions. Councilmember Kevin requested the soils report and noted that nearby park paving and tennis courts do not show the same level of foundation reinforcement, prompting several councilmembers to ask whether the slab design might be over‑engineered. City Manager Robert and parks staff said the design follows the soils report and engineering recommendations and that a more lightly engineered slab could increase long‑term maintenance risk or surface failure.

Several councilmembers noted market conditions and the difficulty of receiving competitive bids for bundled projects; staff and council members discussed cooperative purchasing (BuyBoard, TIPS) and the constraints small municipalities face in current construction markets. Councilmember Feaster and others said the city should avoid a substandard build that would require costly repairs later.

After deliberation Councilmember Feaster moved to award and authorize the contract; the motion passed 4–1.

Contract and budget details: awarded contract amount $197,750; original bond budget for court and lighting $230,000 (lighting not included in this phase); staff recommended reserving lighting for a later phase pending additional cost estimates and options such as newer solar lighting technologies.