Commissioners back RFP to make Blue Earth Plaza water feature safer and usable

Aaron Stewart, Manhattan parks and recreation director, told the City Commission on April 20 that the Blue Earth Plaza’s shallow water feature was designed as a decorative water feature, not as a pool or splash pad, and that its current use presents safety and maintenance problems. The commission gave staff consensus to issue a request for proposals to pursue an interim renovation to reduce hazards and keep a playable water element available.

The issue matters because the feature has been used by children as a wading area and splash element, while the installation’s original materials and detailing have deteriorated. Stewart said Midwest Public Risk, the city’s insurer, concluded the feature’s “unintended use” and open water created a “significant drowning hazard,” and recommended either covering the feature or reducing depth and access. Stewart told commissioners the feature has exposed bolts, slippery stepping stones and glass pebbles that have required repairs and a river-bottom replacement to address fragmentation.

Staff proposed a two-step approach: an interim fix intended to last roughly five to seven years and a later permanent redesign. The interim design would infill the stream channel with 24-inch square pavers, remove the stepping stones and boulders, replace laminar jets with illuminated directional jets (less prone to wind failure), replace deteriorated trench grates and jet lids, and run water under a grate or grid system so the stream is not accessible by foot. Stewart gave an estimated interim cost of $278,000 and said the construction timeline would move from final design and bidding in May and June to a July start and completion in the fall, weather permitting.

For the permanent concept, staff showed a more extensive renovation designed to create a true splash-pad experience with very shallow play areas (about 1 inch or less in the stream), textured boulder seating, illuminated bubblers, a floating granite sphere, terraced concrete seating, plasma pavement replacement and treatment system upgrades. Stewart said the conceptual cost for the full long-term redesign is roughly $1.3 million and that the plan is being considered in the capital improvement planning horizon (targeted for 2030 on the draft plan).

Staff identified a funding source for near-term work: the South End Transportation Development District (TDD) has a current balance of about $535,000. Jason (staff) explained a TDD is a half‑cent sales tax district that has been in place on the South End since about 2010 and is authorized to pay for public infrastructure in that district, including Blue Earth Plaza items listed in the district plan. Commissioners asked about restrictions on TDD spending; staff confirmed the South End TDD plan lists specific public infrastructure eligible for funding in that area (parking garage, Third and Fourth streets, Blue Earth Plaza and surrounding parking and Discovery Center site).

Commissioners and staff discussed alternatives if the commission delayed the project this year. Stewart said the immediate fallback would be to secure the feature with tasteful barriers, run the south-end spray features independently from the stream, and leave the stream dry; that approach would keep people out but eliminate water play for the season. Several commissioners said they preferred an interim mitigation that preserves some water play over full closure. Commissioner comments emphasized the need for both risk mitigation and preserving a usable water element through the remainder of summer and early fall.

The commission voiced support for staff to proceed with procurement: Mayor McCullough asked for public comment, asked whether there was consensus to proceed with an RFP for the interim work, and the commission responded in the affirmative. (No separate formal ordinance or appropriation vote on construction contracts was taken at this meeting; staff said a contract would be brought forward for commission approval once bids are received.)

Stewart also raised related plaza concerns: the adjacent park lawn used for events has suffered heavy wear and required a $16,000 resodding project in January. He asked for feedback about exploring artificial turf or redesigning the event area to add permanent pads for food trucks and more durable surfaces to reduce annual repair needs. Commissioners asked about drainage and the need to design a subsurface and appropriate electrical hookups if turf and hard pads are installed; staff said cost and drainage details are not yet specified and would be part of later planning.

The commission’s next step is to authorize staff to solicit bids for the interim Blue Earth Plaza mitigation and return with contract documents and a formal contract for approval. If the commission approves a contract, Stewart estimated three to six weeks of construction once began (architect estimated three to four weeks, but staff will incorporate weather days into schedules) and a ribbon‑cutting in the fall. The South End TDD balance described by staff is sufficient to cover the interim estimate but additional approvals will be required before any contract is awarded.

Ending: Staff said they will develop construction documents this month, put the interim work out to bid in May, seek contract approval from the commission in June and aim to begin construction in July for fall completion. Formal appropriation or contract award will return to the commission for approval once solicitation and bid results are in.