Evansville Board of Parks Commissioners approves contracts, seeks bids for repairs and HVAC work at Swander Ice Arena

The Board of Parks Commissioners convened July 24 and approved a series of routine contracts and project actions affecting parks and facilities across Evansville.

Board members voted to accept the consent agenda, which included contracts authorizing independent skating professionals Kristen Hayes, Grace Meyer, Brianna Linenberg, Ewan Gregory, Ariel DeJesus and Dana Tang to use Swander Ice Arena. The board then moved into new business, approving a request to seek quotes to add chain-link safety fencing at Stoplight City and Stevenson Parks "to enhance safety around streets and thoroughfares," a board member said.

Director Crook presented a change order summary for the pickleball courts, describing the packet as largely a consolidation of previously approved items dating back to 2023. She identified two credits that had not been previously approved — a $200 bleacher credit and a $1,300.90 shade canopy credit — and said the board was being asked to approve proposal request No. 1 to add restroom doors, a request initiated by Scott Fankhauser of Park Maintenance. "All that you're approving is the proposal request number 1 for the doors to the restrooms," Crook said. The board approved those specified items.

The board authorized staff to seek bids for several repair and replacement projects. A speaker seeking bids for Helfrich Golf Course said city engineers prepared the scope of work at no cost to the parks department; the board approved soliciting bids to address erosion. The board also approved seeking bids to repair drainage at Engelhardt Parking Lot after staff reported a rusted drainage pipe under the concrete has caused settling between the lot and the road.

Serena asked the board’s permission to seek bids to replace rooftop units No. 2 and No. 3 at Swander Ice Arena, saying the existing Deschamps-brand units have parts that are difficult to source locally and refabricated parts may not restore reliable performance. Serena said the replacements for the West rink are covered by this year’s capital improvement budget and the department has requested funding for East-rink units in next year’s capital plan. "These two units control the heating and the air in our West Rink," Serena said. The board approved seeking bids.

In her report to the board, Director Crook announced the main entrance to Wesselman Park will close on Monday and that staff, including Joe Atkinson, will post information and video guidance about alternate access (entrance available behind Swander Ice Arena). She also promoted a "Hot Dog with a Cop" event at Stevenson Park on July 31 from 10 a.m. to noon, noted that the Evansville City Golf Tournament will take place the first weekend in August, and said drywall replacement at Fendrick Clubhouse has begun ahead of the city tournament. Crook invited the board to a tentative ribbon cutting for the Stockwell Park Futsal Court on Aug. 11 at 2 p.m.

Before adjourning, the board moved to accept payroll and vendor claims and set the next meeting in two weeks.

Votes at a glance - Acceptance of meeting memorandum (07/10/2024): motion moved and seconded; outcome: approved. - Consent agenda (Swander Ice Arena contracts for listed skating professionals): approved. - Seek quotes to add chain-link fencing at Stoplight City and Stevenson Parks: approved. - Approve change order items for pickleball courts (includes $200 bleacher credit, $1,300.90 shade canopy credit, and proposal request No. 1 to add restroom doors): approved. - Seek bids to repair erosion at Helfrich Golf Course: approved. - Seek bids to repair drainage at Engelhardt Parking Lot: approved. - Seek bids to replace rooftop units No. 2 and No. 3 at Swander Ice Arena (phase 1 for West rink funded from this year’s capital improvement budget; East rink funding requested for next year): approved. - Acceptance of payroll and vendor claims: approved.

The meeting adjourned with board members noting the next regular meeting in two weeks.