City commission directs staff to rebid destination-style splash pad for Gerry Ivy Park

City commissioners directed staff to prepare a rebid of a larger, destination-style splash pad for Gerry Ivy Park, staff told the Salina Parks and Recreation Advisory Board during its monthly meeting.

The staff presentation summarized three options considered by the commission: (1) rebid a splash pad similar in size and features to the park's prior splash pad (about 2,500 square feet, 10–12 features), (2) pursue a larger, themed “destination” splash pad with more features and lighting, and (3) defer bidding. The commission asked staff to prepare a rebid that isolates a base splash-pad bid with multiple add-alternates so elected officials could select features based on cost, staff said.

Advisory-board members were told the previous iteration of the destination-style design had produced only a single bid that exceeded the city’s budget and was rejected; the rebid will try to attract more bidders and offer add-alternates for features such as a water wall and memorial updates. Staff said the goal is to have a splash pad at Gerry Ivy in 2026 and that there will not be a splash pad at that park in 2025. Staff also noted the city expects two other splash pads in town (Centennial Park and Hawthorne Park) to open about May 1, weather permitting.

Why it matters: commissioners asked for a rebid with options to better control costs and give elected officials choices on which features to fund. Staff emphasized using a base bid plus add-alternates to keep the base project affordable while preserving optional, higher-cost elements for later consideration.

Details provided by staff included comparisons of recent commercial splash-pad projects (size, features, circulation systems, and construction dates) to establish current construction price ranges. Staff said the rebid will include a clear base scope and several priced alternates for decorative/themed features and memorial work. No final contract award or construction funding was decided at the advisory-board meeting; the action described was a governing-body direction relayed to the advisory board.

The advisory board asked clarifying questions about the rebid process and timeline. Staff said drawings should be ready to go out to bid after the current design and pricing exercise and that the commission’s direction framed the scope of the planned rebid.

Staff said the city will pursue bids to allow the governing body to choose among priced alternates; a final decision about which alternates, if any, will be funded will be made by the city commission when bids return.

Ending: Staff told the advisory board it expects to rebid the project and present bid packages and alternates to the governing body; the earliest possible construction target identified in the meeting was 2026.