Parks board approves multiple construction contracts, playground projects and a property transfer

The Board of Parks and Recreation for the Consolidated City of Indianapolis on Sept. 23 approved a slate of construction contracts, professional-service agreements, a property transfer from the Department of Metropolitan Development and a change order to an existing contract.

The actions approved by the board covered park renovation and playground projects across the city, including Gustafson Field, Southwest Way Park, multiple northwest-side playgrounds, Arsenal/Bellamy/DeQuincy improvements, Christian/Virginia Lee O’Brien/Wish Parks, and a change order to the Franklin Township Community Park project. The board also approved a professional-service agreement for schematic design work at the Thatcher Park Family Center, a design contract for Jack Butler Park Family Center, an amendment to a Roby Park professional services contract, and an extension and increase to website-support services with Forum 1 Communications Corporation.

Votes were conducted by voice and recorded as "ayes" in each case; no roll-call tallies were read into the record during the meeting. Where amounts were given in the staff recommendations, the board approved the awards as presented on the agenda.

Key approved items and amounts (as presented to the board): - Award of RFB-17 DPR-318 Gustafson Field Improvements to Norcon Incorporated — $1,181,000 (agenda item 41). - Award of RFB-17 DPR-331 Southwest Way Park Improvements to Morphy — $1,119,250 (agenda item 42). - Award of RFB-17 DPR-321 Playground improvements at Eagle Highlands, Faculty, James Foster Gaines and Moreland to Trisler Construction — $1,518,000 (agenda item 43). - Award of RFP-17 DPR-333 improvements at Arsenal, Bellamy and DeQuincy Parks to Scenic Construction Services — $909,800 (agenda item 44). - Award of RFP-17 DPR-334 improvements at Christian, Virginia Lee O’Brien and Wish Parks to Matcon General Contractors — $1,736,000 (agenda item 45). Board members noted Councilor Leroy Robertson contributed $1,000,000 in council funds toward enhancements at Wish Park during discussion. - Professional-service agreement for schematic design at Thatcher Park Family Center with Synthesis Incorporated — not-to-exceed $250,000 (agenda item 46). - Professional-service agreement for Jack Butler Park Family Center with Studio Access — not-to-exceed $250,000, advancing the design to roughly 50% of construction documents (agenda item 47). - Amendment No. 1 for Roby Park with Wei Engineers — add $5,500 for electrical work to shelter and future comfort station service (agenda item 48). - Change Order No. 1 for Franklin Township Community Park playground improvements with Norcon Incorporated — increase by $187,577.67 and add 23 days to the schedule, bringing the revised total to $2,105,714.16 (agenda item 49). - Amendment No. 2 to Contract No. 19076 with Forum 1 Communications Corporation for website support — increase $239,819.54 for a total not to exceed $604,597.04 and extend the contract through Dec. 31, 2028 (agenda item 50).

The board also approved a companion resolution to accept and consolidate property located at 900 E. 604th St. from the Department of Metropolitan Development into the Department of Parks and Recreation; that resolution was presented as a companion to a DMD action signed in August and was adopted by voice vote (resolution number listed on the agenda).

The board took the approvals in sequence after staff presentations and brief questions. Presenters summarized scopes of work, subcontractor good-faith participation commitments (MBE/WBE/SBE percentages as submitted), and completion targets. Several presenters noted the city's Office of Minority and Women's Business Development had reviewed SBE/XBE documentation and found good-faith efforts to maximize participation.

Board members did ask clarifying questions on select items, most notably on the Franklin Township change order where staff and the project engineer explained the increase principally resulted from unforeseen wet soils, buried agricultural drain tile and required soil stabilization. The board approved the change order after that explanation.

All approved agenda items will proceed to the director for signature and execution as authorized by the board. Where staff indicated funding sources (council allocations or councilor-directed funds), that information was noted in the presentations.

Votes at a glance (voice votes; roll call not provided in transcript): - Agenda item 41 — approved (voice). - Agenda item 42 — approved (voice). - Agenda item 43 — approved (voice). - Agenda item 44 — approved (voice). - Agenda item 45 — approved (voice). - Agenda item 46 — approved (voice). - Agenda item 47 — approved (voice). - Agenda item 48 — approved (voice). - Agenda item 49 — approved (voice). - Agenda item 50 — approved (voice).

The board concluded the meeting after a presentation from the Friends of Roby Park and noted the next regular meeting is scheduled for Oct. 21, 2025 at 4 p.m. in Room T221 of the City-County Building.