Council approves bid package, authorizes pre‑purchase for Breville River Park splash‑park work

The Randolph City Council on Sept. 2 authorized staff to advertise for construction bids and to pre‑purchase long‑lead components for the Breville River Park Rehabilitation Project, also described in staff materials as the splash park project. The action clears the way to solicit contractors for work that includes a spray pad/splash features, new restroom/concession building, amphitheater, renovated playground surfacing, new pickleball courts, pathways, landscaping, parking and lighting.

City Engineer Robin Campan told the council the city has received final construction documents and recommended the bid package and limited pre‑purchases. "The city received $3,000,000 in grants through the rural recreation and tourism program funded by state Proposition 68 for this project," Campan said. She said the city has also accepted multiple donations of fixtures and materials from private sponsors, which will let the city stretch the grant funding for additional park improvements.

Campan explained staff seeks pre‑authorization to buy two categories of items with long lead times — the manufactured restroom/concession building and major splash‑pad features — using government purchasing contracts so the city pays the contract price without additional contractor markup. "They both have really long lead times, and we can purchase them through the government purchasing contract," she said, noting purchasing them early would keep the project on schedule when construction begins.

Campan also told the council that the work will occur in a floodway and that crews will avoid winter construction because seasonal river flows could jeopardize in‑progress work. She said staff intends to advertise for bids in October to capture more competitive fall/winter contractor pricing for a project that will be built in spring.

Council members thanked project volunteers and donors; one council member singled out Vicki Delana for her work on the project. A motion to approve the recommended actions (advertise the request for proposals and authorize the limited pre‑purchase) passed with Council Member Straub moving and Council Member Clement seconding; roll call votes recorded were all in favor.

The council packet lists the project as funded by the $3 million Prop 68 rural recreation and tourism grant plus multiple private donations (donor items include shade structure components, concrete features, picnic furnishings and partial concrete work). Staff said the city will not release construction advertisements until October and will stage procurement so long‑lead items are on site before spring construction begins.

Next steps: staff will advertise the construction solicitation in October and, if awarded, return to council with contract award recommendations and construction schedules. No construction contract was awarded at the Sept. 2 meeting.