Jonesboro committee forwards Disciple Drive Park design contract and $28,000 lighting change order to full council

The Finance Administration Council Committee of the City of Jonesboro voted to forward to full council a resolution to enter into an agreement with Half to provide professional services for the Disciple Drive Park project and a separate resolution to accept Change Order No. 1, adding $28,000 to Wilkins Electric LLC's contract for lighting work at Craighead Forest Park.

The Disciple Drive Park resolution directs the city to contract with Half for design services and to fund the work from the city’s 2025 capital improvement budget. Mr. Thomas, a city staff member who presented the item, said the selection committee determined that Half was the most qualified firm and that the mayor and city clerk are authorized to execute the agreement. “The property was actually sold and partially donated by Cornerstone as well as Journey’s Church,” Mr. Thomas said, describing how the park name was agreed to during land negotiations.

Committee members pressed for details about scope, public input and funding. The staff presentation in the resolution describes the project as an approximately 17.31-acre park and lists preliminary design elements the consultant will examine, including parking for approximately 77 standard spaces plus required ADA spaces; primary and secondary playgrounds; large and small dog parks; one tennis court and four pickleball courts; one full-size multipurpose field with sports lighting and two half-size multipurpose fields with sports lighting; hardscape and ADA paths to major program areas; soft-surface trails; a roughly 2-acre fishing/detention pond with walking paths; a restroom building; archway and signage; and site grading and drainage. Mr. Thomas said the design work will include a short-term (phase 1) concept and opportunities for longer-term elements identified through public input meetings.

On funding, Mr. Thomas said the city has “some federal” grant money associated with acquisition and has applied for additional grants; local donors have also contributed, including a donation noted from the Junior Auxiliary. He said the city has not used ARPA funds for this project at this time and that a preliminary design will provide cost estimates the city can use to decide on next steps. “Moving this process forward will give us, not only a conceptual idea, but a financial blueprint of what that conceptual should cost,” Mr. Thomas said.

On the Craighead Forest Park item, the committee reviewed Resolution 25-029, which accepts Change Order No. 1 and increases the purchase order for Wilkins Electric LLC by $28,000 to add lighting along a new trail spur that connects the CFP loop to a new parking lot. The resolution states funding will come from the capital budget and that compensation will be paid in accordance with the contract documents. Staff told the committee that the additional lighting was funded from project cost savings already budgeted and that no additional change orders are anticipated at this time.

One committee member urged consideration of a gate or other protective measures for the park given the larger investment being made; the member noted the overall project investment in the park approaches $300,000 and said a gate would help protect that investment.

Votes at a glance: - Resolution 25-027 — Authorize agreement with Half for professional services for Disciple Drive Park and authorize mayor and city clerk to execute documents. Committee action: motion made and seconded; forwarded to full council for final action. Vote tally: not specified in the transcript. - Resolution 25-029 — Accept Change Order No. 1 for the Craighead Forest Park lighting project (increase $28,000 to Wilkins Electric LLC). Committee action: motion made and seconded; forwarded to full council for final action. Vote tally: not specified in the transcript.

The committee also approved two sets of minutes from prior meetings as a routine item. With no public comments, the committee adjourned.