Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Parks And Recreation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council reviews final design and cost increases for Academy–Gibson athletic fields
Summary
City parks staff presented final designs for the Academy–Gibson athletic fields bond project, reporting a final cost estimate of $4,181,519 — about $40,343 over the adopted budget — and several design changes from the master plan including turfing fields and removing two playgrounds.
Sheila, a parks and recreation staff member, presented final design plans for the Academy–Gibson athletic fields, one of 13 bond projects. She said the cost estimate for the final design is $4,181,519 compared with a project budget of $4,141,176, an overage of approximately $40,343. Sheila said staff will continue to look for cost savings during the construction-document phase.
Sheila reviewed differences between the adopted master plan and the final design. Changes include removal of one playground between Webb Field and McAllister Field because of spacing and retaining-wall constraints; converting a proposed paved drive to sidewalks for accessibility; moving the storage building back adjacent to Webb’s diamond field; and postponing a McAllister on-street parking conversion to a future parking-lot project with transportation staff.
Design highlights include turfing the baseball diamond and the rectangle (football/soccer) field, which staff said would be the first turf installation in the City of Concord parks system. The turf will be a dual-fiber synthetic system with rubber and sand infield and high-speed drainage. Other improvements include new dugouts with black vinyl fencing, a brick spectator wall and netting behind home plate, multiple base paths for different league play, removable goal posts, new press-box renovations with accessible service counters and concession upgrades, and a new storage and restroom building (about 1,582 square feet) with accessible family/restroom features and an adult changing table.
Sheila said Webb Field is historically significant (turning 100 years old in 2024 and associated with the Concord Weavers minor-league team) and staff intends to include a full graphic with the City of Concord logo on the turf. Sheila said the project would also include a “traffic garden” at Gibson Field — a painted street-like area to teach children bike and pedestrian safety — which will replace a smaller parking lot. She estimated construction duration at about a year and a half, depending on turf procurement and installation schedules.
Sheila said the project will move to construction documents and bidding; staff plans to be ready to bid in early summer and will seek cost reductions before construction. Council asked about parking and whether the revised plans would provide enough spaces for spectators; Sheila said staff believes the changes will accommodate event parking and that the postponed McAllister parking-lot project remains a future work item.
Council did not take a final vote at the work session; staff presented final designs for council approval on a future agenda and noted ongoing coordination with transportation and grant partners.
