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Facilities committee backs redesign of throwing-event area, asks board to approve $72,000 increase
Summary
After multiple redesigns to move throwing events out of flood-prone ground, the facilities committee recommended forwarding a $247,225 project (previously approved at $174,000) — an increase of roughly $72,000 largely tied to electrical work — to the full board.
The Quakertown Community School District facilities committee on March 3 recommended the full school board consider a redesigned plan to relocate track throwing events out of a flood-prone area and provide infield electrical service.
The committee reviewed multiple iterations of the plan intended to remove discus, javelin and shot-put activity from an area that the committee described as periodically swampy and unsafe for retrieval operations. Facilities staff said the earlier design estimates exceeded $300,000, so engineers and coaches worked to reduce scope and cost. "The root cause of all of this is because our throwing events are behind the top arc ... into literal swamp swampy land," a facilities presenter said, describing long-standing drainage issues.
The committee reported a previously approved budget of $174,000 for the relocation but said the revised cost estimate is $247,225 — a difference of about $72,000 — because the new plan includes directional drilling and electrical conduit to provide on-field outlets. That electrical work is not included in one contractor’s base quote and will require an allowance. Facilities staff said the design now avoids more extensive rework (high jump relocation, additional surfacing) and reduces costs while improving safety and sight lines for meets.
Committee members asked about scheduling and PIAA approvals; staff said the work would be a summer project and that PIAA (state interscholastic athletics) review is likely for facility changes intended to host meets. The committee agreed to advance the item to the full board agenda with the requested allowance for electrical work, and staff said they would include conduit allowances to avoid under-sizing future infrastructure.
No final construction contract was approved at the committee meeting; the committee recommended board consideration of the revised plan and budget.
