Kearney staff outlines timeline for major park project; federal LWCF review, bidding planned

Parks staff told the Kearney Parks and Recreation Board on Oct. 21 that the project’s 90% plan review is imminent and that a final review by the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) is expected in mid-November. Staff said Modot-related delays had held the project about six to seven months, but that the plan set and federal review are now moving forward.

Staff described the procurement steps the city must follow after federal review. Advertisement for bids will require federal-advertising language and publication in multiple newspapers; bids must be solicited for at least three weeks (staff said they would allow four weeks to account for possible advertising hiccups). Staff recommended separating playground equipment procurement from general-contractor bids to obtain better pricing and said equipment selections would later be presented to the Board of Aldermen for approval.

The director said architects and representatives from the project team are expected to attend the board’s November meeting for a detailed discussion of plans and contract documents. Staff laid out a tentative schedule that includes a pre-bid meeting in January, bid openings around the week of Feb. 2, a mid-March groundbreaking if timelines hold, and an anticipated late-summer completion.

Staff cautioned that the 90% designation leaves room for a 10% of expected changes, often handled as change orders, and noted the project will require federal approvals before the city can advertise for bids. No formal vote on project authorization is recorded in the meeting transcript.