Parks board approves soil borings near museum and pagoda for riverfront reconstruction study

The Evansville Parks Board on Sept. 3 approved a staff request to allow Patriot Engineering to perform two soil borings on parks-owned property near the pagoda and adjacent to the museum parking lot as part of preliminary riverfront reconstruction work.

Matt Wallace, a consultant with Morley working on behalf of design firm Sasaki, said the borings would support preliminary designs being developed for the riverfront project. “We have been hired by a design consultant called Sasaki, who has in turn been hired by Erep, who is looking at some preliminary designs for riverfront projects. And we would like to be able to do some soil borings,” Wallace said. He described two borings about 15 feet deep that would be backfilled and patched and said the work could be done in a single day.

Board members approved the request but emphasized coordination with other city groups. Danielle and board members noted the need to coordinate with museum staff, the water department, and the city engineer; board members said three borings in the right-of-way also require coordination with the city engineer’s office and that the contractor would aim to work within a Riverside Drive closure window when possible.

Wallace said the team would like to perform the work within four to six weeks but did not provide a firm schedule because the driller and other approvals could affect timing. The board approved the permission by voice vote.