Cedar City reviews $3.9 million estimate for Fiddlers Veil park; staff to pursue value engineering and phasing

Ken Olsen, Cedar City leisure services administrator, presented a 60% park design for the Fiddlers Veil site, emphasizing layout and placement over finish details. "This is our first rendering... it kinda just details the amenities," Olsen told the council, pointing to play areas, a pavilion and a bridge relocated to better fit the canal-side space.

The engineering estimate to build the shown design from the city's current baseline to the finished product was about $3.9 million, Olsen said, which includes the bridge. Council members noted the city has roughly $2 million budgeted for the project and questioned whether the outdoor classroom and some amenities could be delayed. "We've talked seriously about some value engineering," Mayor Garth Green said, urging staff to explore in-house work and phased construction to reduce costs.

Council asked for more detailed cost breakdowns and phasing options so potential community partners could consider funding the outdoor classroom earlier. Olsen said staff will provide the detailed itemized costs and updated layouts to council by email for further review. The discussion closed with direction to pursue value-engineering, consider phasing and return with more precise estimates and bid-ready scopes.