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Parks board approves permits and contracts, seeks bids for splash pad and playgrounds; opens Next Level Trail phase 2 bids
Summary
At its May 7 meeting the board approved consent items including park use permits and tree removals, authorized a professional services agreement for HVAC work at Swander Ice Arena, gave permission to seek bids for Teepee splash pad and Garvin Park activity zone, and received opened bids for the Next Level Trail phase 2 project.
The Evansville Board of Parks Commissioners approved a package of routine consent items, authorized engineering and bidding steps for several 2024 bond projects and accepted a donated electrical upgrade for tennis courts during its May 7 meeting.
On the consent agenda the board authorized park property use permits (including a permit with Easterseals for Ritzy's Fantasy of Lights at Carvin Park and a permit for Funk in the City Arts Festival at Haney Corner), a land-use permit for the Evansville Adult Recreational Baseball League, and agreements for fire-extinguisher inspection and maintenance. The agenda also included permission previously approved by the Tree Advisory Board to remove 13 trees at Garvin Park activity zone and 32 trees for the Next Level Trail phase 2.
The board approved a professional services agreement with 3 I Engineering to prepare scope-of-work documents for rooftop HVAC replacement at Swander Ice Arena. Andrea Lord, assistant facility manager at Swander Ice Arena, described the request as the next step so the department "can start the process of moving forward with the HVAC replacement for our rooftop units at the rink."
The board granted permission to seek bids for the Teepee Park splash pad, which is one of the 2024 bond aquatics projects. Staff said construction documents are being prepared so the project can go to bid once documents are complete.
Staff also said Garvin Park activity zone work — a new playground, restroom facility, basketball courts and trail connections — is completing construction documents and will proceed to bidding. For the Next Level Trail phase 2 (Wesselman's through Woodmere Park), staff opened and read multiple contractor bids and alternates to the record; base bids reported in the meeting included Garmon ($1,340,800), JBI Construction ($1,362,000) and Rivertown ($1,409,000). Staff said the bids would be submitted to purchasing and held under advisement pending board review; no contract award was made at the meeting.
Separately, the board approved an electrical service upgrade at the public tennis courts at the request of the Evansville Community Tennis Association. Steve Schafer, representing the association, said a donor covered approximately $18,000 for the upgrade that will allow the site to host larger tournaments and temporary mobile offices. A parks official noted infrastructure improvements donated to public property become property of the political subdivision once installed.
The board also accepted payroll and vendor claims and closed the meeting.
Votes at a glance - Consent agenda (multiple permits and tree removals): approved (voice vote). Items included: Ritzy's Fantasy of Lights permit (Carvin Park), Funk in the City permit (Haney Corner), Evansville Adult Recreational Baseball League land use permit, fire-safety inspection contract, tree removals at Garvin Park (13 trees) and Next Level Trail phase 2 (32 trees). - Professional services agreement with 3 I Engineering (Swander Ice Arena HVAC): approved (voice vote). - Permission to seek bids: Teepee Park splash pad: approved (voice vote); Garvin Park activity zone: approved (voice vote). - Opened bids: Next Level Trail Phase 2 — bids read into record (no award). Base bids reported: Garmon $1,340,800; JBI Construction $1,362,000; Rivertown $1,409,000. - Electrical service upgrade for tennis courts (donor-funded, approx. $18,000): approved (voice vote). - Acceptance of payroll and vendor claims: approved (voice vote).
No ordinances or formal bond issuances were adopted at the meeting; the board primarily advanced procurement steps and accepted routine agreements and permits.
