Clawson Council awards City Park master plan and Hunter Community Center feasibility study to SmithGroup for $60,235

The Clawson City Council voted Oct. 7 to award a combined City Park master plan and Hunter Community Center feasibility study contract to SmithGroup for $60,235. Administration and the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee reviewed four proposals: OHM ($103,000), Giffords Webster ($79,000), SmithGroup ($60,235) and Carlyle Wortman/AEW ($42,008). The administration and advisory board recommended SmithGroup as the best fit for Clawson’s goals.

"We thoroughly reviewed all four of these proposals," said Melissa Prouse, chair of the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee. "We unanimously agreed that the SmithGroup proposal was the most robust...they had spent time in the parks before they wrote the proposal." Parks and Recreation Director Scott Jennings told council the team thought SmithGroup’s approach offered strong value and fresh ideas for the city.

Council members pressed staff for details about scope and public engagement. Administration said the combined study is intended to support future grant applications and that public outreach will be a significant part of the process, including meetings and online feedback. A council member asked whether the study was intended to move the community center to City Park; staff said the feasibility study will evaluate options, including whether renovation of Hunter or a new building at City Park is preferable, and that no decision has been made.

On a roll call vote the council approved the award; the record shows all members present voted yes. The contract award initiates the study phase; administration said it will return with details about public engagement and timeline once work is underway.

The council approved the consent agenda earlier in the meeting, which included a list of bills totaling $1,441,736.54.