Parks commission approves seeking construction manager, bids for Next Level Trail and local repairs

The Evansville City Board of Parks Commission on Jan. 22 voted to seek proposals for a construction manager at-risk (CMC) for projects funded by the 2024 parks bond and authorized separate procurement steps for several specific park projects, including phase 2 of the Next Level Trail, repaving at Hyde Park and the removal of hazardous trees.

The vote came during the board's new-business agenda. Director Danielle Crook told commissioners the department wants to solicit qualifications for a CMC to help manage eight bond projects (seven involving parks and one at the zoo), control change orders and obtain a guaranteed maximum price for major contracts. "This is really gonna help with that and give us a guaranteed maximum price," Crook said.

Why it matters: the CMC approach is intended to centralize oversight across multiple projects and limit unplanned cost increases for bond-funded work. The Next Level Trail segment authorized for bidding would connect recent work in Westland Park, cross the Lloyd Expressway and the state hospital grounds and tie into an existing riverside trail near Washington/Walnut streets; Crook said the trail will be a 10-foot-wide multiuse path. The department confirmed it has a $2,000,000 grant for that trail segment and that the total project cost is expected to be a little over $3,000,000, though final figures depend on returned bids.

Commissioners also approved seeking quotes to repave the Hyde Park entrance, including the parking area near the Park Green mini-golf, using 2025 funds with an eye to coordinate with a nearby 2024 repaving project. Deputy Director Bausman told the board the work would refresh entry, egress and parking surfaces and could be scheduled this spring to align with nearby construction.

Separately, the board authorized soliciting quotes to remove hazardous trees already approved by the Tree Advisory Board. Deputy Director Bausman and the department's urban forester, Sean Dickerson, described the removals as focused on trees with defects that create a likelihood of failure toward people or property; staff said this authorization covers about 24 trees in the current batch. Bausman and Crook also described storm-related damage and the department's ongoing debris-chipping operations in parks and for resident drop-off at Roberts Park.

The board approved each request by voice vote; meeting minutes show each motion "carried" with commissioners answering "aye." The meeting also included routine acceptance of payroll and vendor claims, which the board approved by motion before adjourning.

The department said returned RFQs and bid/quote responses will be brought back to the Parks Commission for evaluation and further discussion before contracts are awarded.