Berkeley County approves grants, awards construction contract to begin Inwood Park Phase 1

Berkeley County commissioners on Thursday approved grant actions and awarded a construction contract to begin the first phase of site work at Inwood Park, a project county leaders said has been in planning for years. Deputy County Administrator Brown Breiner told commissioners Region 9 identified a $320,250 Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) grant to build mountain-bike trails at the park and that the award would require a 20% county match of $64,050. The commissioners also voted to accept a $144,425 Chesapeake Bay Trust grant (the G3 program for Green Streets, Green Jobs and Green Towns) to install bioretention areas intended to assist drainage inside the park. “Working with Region 9 on this project has just been amazing,” Breiner said, noting Region 9 will administer the CBT grant for the county. County staff reported three bids for the general construction contract. Lance Construction submitted the low base bid of $7,228,852.01; Triple Crown Construction bid $10,580,000 and Warner Construction bid $15,616,216.29. To fit the approximately $6.0 million the county had available for this award, staff recommended removing several add-alternate elements — including the amphitheater, dog park, the disc-golf course, upper pickleball courts, and some bioretention and other items — which reduced Lance’s adjusted contract to $5,502,926. Staff added a 5% contingency of $275,146.30 and construction/inspection costs of $219,150, yielding a total commitment of about $5,997,222.30. Commissioners said bonds supporting the park project closed the previous day and the funds are available. Commissioner (Kemp) moved to proceed with Lance Construction under the administrator’s recommendations; the motion carried after the usual aye vote. County staff and commissioners repeatedly credited Region 9, engineer CEC and other partners for helping secure grants and move the project forward. County officials noted the removed items were not canceled forever; they described the award as a Phase 1 scope intended to open the park with major amenities and leave intact opportunities for later phases if additional grant or donor dollars arrive. Commissioners separately approved the county applying for the TAP grant and accepting the CBT grant. Region 9 provided a letter committing to the county match for the TAP application if the commission approved the application and the grant was awarded.