Council approves plans and bidding for Lincoln Community Center Park Phase 1 skate park; budgeted cost may rise to ~$3.2M

The Lincoln City Council on Tuesday authorized staff to finalize plans and solicit construction bids for Phase 1 of the Community Center Park, approving the plans, specifications and engineer’s estimate for a project centered on a new skate park.

Araceli Casares, engineering manager, said the site is a roughly 4‑acre parcel adjacent to the community center and will ultimately include basketball and pickleball courts, a play area, parking and informal turf. Phase 1, she said, focuses on a 16,700‑square‑foot skate park, an entry plaza, pathways, perimeter fencing, lighting and landscaping to connect the park to existing parking and the community center.

Casares told the council the project was budgeted at $2,700,000. She said about $500,000 has been encumbered for design and that the 100% plans returned an estimated construction cost of about $2,400,000. Including a 10% contingency, a potential Placer County Conservation Program (PCCP) mitigation fee and construction inspection costs (estimated at 15%), staff’s current total construction estimate is about $3.2 million.

Council members and staff noted the PCCP mitigation fee is being discussed with county officials and staff will seek any available county fees that can be applied to the project; Casares said the county has collected several hundred thousand dollars in fees that may be available. The city will bid the project after PS&E approval; staff said a one‑month bid period would target an August bid opening and a late‑August or early‑September award if bids align with the estimate.

Public commenters asked about annual maintenance costs. Staff provided a rule‑of‑thumb: roughly $40,000 per acre per year for a conventional turf/landscaped park, but said the skate park’s largely concrete buildout will likely lower ongoing watering and mowing costs and will be funded through the city’s park maintenance CFD.

The council voted to send the project to bid. Roll call showed Council Member Reedy, Mayor Pro Tem Brown, Council Member Pearl, Council Member Eklund and Mayor Andreatta voting yes.

Why it matters: The skate park replaces a removed facility and is intended as a visible, regionally competitive attraction adjacent to the community center; higher than anticipated construction costs and PCCP mitigation requirements will determine whether the council needs to approve additional funding when bids are returned.

Next steps: Staff will publish bid documents, open bids in mid‑August and return to council for contract award consideration in late August/early September.