Concord Council hears parks bond update; small budget shifts, projects move toward construction

City of Concord officials told the City Council that the city’s general obligation parks bond program remains on budget overall while several individual projects saw modest estimate changes and a few construction milestones advanced. Jessica Jones, Concord finance director, told council the combined bond spreadsheet showed three changes: a roughly $100,000 increase at Caldwell Park for additional testing and a contract, a nearly $500,000 increase at Grama Park to cover testing, inspections and estimated driveway/easement work, and an update to Hartsell Park that now reflects a $300,000 restroom building the council approved last month. With the updated estimates and investment earnings through June, the bond program now shows a surplus of about $1,400,000. The parks department’s director, Jay (last name not specified in the record), briefed the council on project status. He said the Academy-Gibson McGuinness Aquatic Center is complete and attendance has increased by about 1,100 visits compared with the same period last year. Dorton Park stream-restoration work is essentially complete; staff and the vendor will do a final walkthrough and remove fencing once punch-list items are closed. Caldwell Park remains under construction with underground utilities and water-line installation; staff said the project remains on schedule for completion in summer 2026. Jim Ramsore Park is in early site work (restaking, fencing, tree removal) and will show progress in coming months. Staff reported several upcoming procurement and permitting items: bids for the Academy-Gibson athletic fields close July 30, with council action expected in August; a Traffic Garden stakeholder meeting is set for July 17; the skatepark sculpture garden is awaiting NCDEQ erosion-and-sediment-permit review with bidding expected next summer; Poplar Tent Trailhead Park achieved NCDOT approval for its entrance concept and is targeted for fall 2026 bidding; and the Hartsell Park restroom bid closed this month and will begin soon. Staff also said Accela permitting reviews and NCDEQ permits have been completed or are underway for some projects. As part of the bond implementation, the council authorized a separate contract for construction-materials testing and special inspections for Jim J. Ramsore Park. Staff presented Kleinfelder as the selected firm and said the contract cost will not exceed $225,000. City officials invited questions and said they will return with updated spreadsheets when numbers change and with photo progress reports as projects advance.