CRA and city advance $10 million to close Curry Park funding gap after bids exceed budget

The West Palm Beach Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) board voted unanimously to approve Resolution No. 25-3 and Resolution No. 25-2F, authorizing a combined CRA contribution and budget appropriation to close a $10 million shortfall for the Curry Park redevelopment project.

The move was driven by bids that came in well above the project's original budget. "The lowest responsive bid came in at $35,500,000, which exceeded the budgeted $27,700,000," said Chris Rugg, executive director of the CRA. Rugg told the board staff recommended a funding plan that, together with city advances and contingency dollars, will fully fund the recommended contractor and allow work to proceed.

The nut graph: Curry Park is a roughly 12-acre redevelopment in the city's north end that was included in the 2020 Parks Bond. Its concept — approved previously by the board — includes multiuse paths, a large playground, pickleball courts, kayak launches, event spaces, a resiliency hub and possible future café. Bids exceeded the budget, creating an immediate need for supplemental funding to preserve grant eligibility and move into construction.

City administrator Faye Johnson outlined the staff plan to close the shortfall. Johnson said the city will advance $8.1 million from a property-restoration/general fund reserve to the CRA and the CRA would contribute about $1.9 million from its FY24–25 budgeted amounts, producing a $10 million total contribution. Engineering recommended a $2.2 million contingency, which staff folded into the funding plan. "Based on discussion with staff ... we think that there may be some unforeseen work that needs to be done," Johnson said.

Staff described the repayment structure as a zero-interest advancement: the CRA would repay the city over three annual payments beginning in fiscal year 2026 and concluding in fiscal year 2028, while the CRA's five-year contribution schedule remains in place. Johnson said the zero-interest approach avoids placing the CRA into private debt service that would strain its operating budget.

Board members pressed staff on procurement and timing. Commissioner John Peduzzi (first reference in transcript as Commissioner Peduzzi) asked whether the board would be locked into the staff-recommended contractor if they approved the funding. City counsel and staff said the CRA funding vote is predicated on the city awarding the construction contract later in the evening to the recommended low bidder; if the city commission chose a different, more expensive bidder, additional funding would be needed before a contract could be executed.

Commissioner Fox said she supported the funding vote to avoid further delay while reserving questions about the contractor for the companion city commission item. "The neighborhood has waited long enough," Fox said. Several other commissioners praised staff coordination to identify the dollars and urged a full discussion of contractor qualifications during the city commission meeting.

Staff noted that several grants support the project and carry deadlines. The largest single grant cited was $16,700,000 with a June 2, 2026 substantive-completion requirement; staff said meeting grant timelines made securing full funding now time-critical. "Time is of the essence," Rugg said.

The board approved both resolutions unanimously. Staff listed next steps as completing the funding agreement, moving the companion appropriation and proceeding with contractor selection and contract execution at the city commission meeting that followed.

Less-critical details: project partners mentioned include Chen Moore & Associates (design consultant) and Biederman Redevelopment Ventures (programming/activation). Dan Biederman was noted as consultant leadership for park programming. The recommended contractor named in staff materials was West (listed as West Construction), and staff reported West submitted the lowest responsive bid.

Ending: With the funding in place, staff moved to schedule contract award and construction administration tasks; the board and staff emphasized that the city commission will review and vote on the recommended construction contract at a companion agenda item.