Committee approves agenda; discusses $200,000 design request and longer-term funding for Robbinsdale Park resurfacing

Rapid City’s Public Works Committee approved its agenda and consent items on Tuesday, Jan. 14, and spent part of the meeting clarifying a $200,000 request that would fund design work for parking-lot resurfacing at Robbinsdale Park and Oak Valley Park.

The design covers three parking areas, and Parks Department staff said the $200,000 request is intended to finance design and prepare the work for bidding. "We are — there's design for all three, and we'll try to do as much as we can for that $200,000," said a Parks Department staff member. Staff described the planned work as primarily mill overlay with localized full-depth patch repairs rather than full tear-out replacement.

The question about scope came from Public Works Committee member Seacrest during the consent-item discussion. Seacrest asked whether the $200,000 covered design for two lots at Robbinsdale Park only or for three lots including Oak Valley Park. A Parks Department staff member confirmed the design covers all three lots and said the project would be bid soon. The staff member also said the smaller Robbinsdale lot by the bicycle playground would be a lower priority and "probably be bid as an alternate."

Finance Director Daniel Ainsley told the committee that city staff are preparing a larger Tax Increment Financing (TIF) district that would target multiple neighborhood improvements, and that Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and other resources could help pay for substantial additional work at Robbinsdale Park. "The city staff is preparing a large TIF district that would include a lot of improvements within that neighborhood. A portion of that will also be working to get CDBG and other resources that would be used to make a lot of significant improvements at Robbinsdale Park," Ainsley said, and added that the city expects more improvements over the next "three, four years." He invited committee members to pass along any priorities to the Parks Department.

Seacrest also noted the park playground equipment is more than 30 years old and said residents view the site as a neighborhood priority used by baseball groups, dog walkers and other community members.

No public speakers had signed up to comment. The committee approved consent items 1 through 8 as presented and adjourned without further substantive action on the resurfacing beyond directing the question and clarification in the discussion.

Votes at a glance: The committee adopted the meeting agenda (motion by Roberts, second by Seacrest; motion passed). The committee approved consent items 1–8 (motion by Roberts, second by Hamm; motion passed). The committee approved adjournment (motion by Seacrest, second by Hamm; motion passed).