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Manvel parks staff shares $1.84 million preliminary estimate for City Hall Park; board to review design details
Summary
City staff presented an updated exhibit and a preliminary park-only cost estimate of $1,836,713 for the proposed City Hall Park; board members raised concerns about drainage, trail geometry, power stub-outs and preserved trees and asked staff to return with a revised, itemized package.
City of Manvel parks staff on Oct. 24 presented an updated site exhibit and a preliminary, park-only cost estimate of $1,836,713 for the proposed City Hall Park, prompting questions from the Parks and Recreation Board about drainage, utilities and accessibility.
“On the estimates that was provided, it's preliminary… the park piece comes out to be 1,836,713,” Joseph, parks staff presenting the update, said. He added the figure includes a 5% construction contingency, 10% design contingency and 1.5% for materials testing, and that staff has not yet completed a line-item review.
Why it matters: The board had earlier discussed a planning-level budget of roughly $1.5 million for the park; Joseph said staff will scrutinize the estimate, ask PGAL to clarify amounts the city questions, and report back with any recommended adjustments.
Board members pressed for specifics that could affect both cost and functionality. Mary Anne Atkinson and others asked whether drainage infrastructure or an off-site detention solution is required where the dog park is proposed. Joseph said detailed design work on drainage has not yet been done and that the city and consultant will address that in subsequent design phases.
Members also urged that the pavilion be sized and specified with vendor access and electrical stub-outs in mind so the site can support farmers-market vendors and future lighting. “So that could be something in a phase 2 or phase 3,” the chair said while urging infrastructure be planned even if installation is deferred. The board flagged trail geometry (a pronounced hairpin turn on the exhibit) and requested that sharp trail radii be smoothed for stroller and accessibility use.
Preserving large existing trees was another priority. Staff said initial review may indicate the need to remove one small tree but that the final drawings will clarify which, if any, trees must come down and where new canopy plantings would be added.
Next steps: Staff will circulate the updated exhibit and the consultants’ itemized estimate by email, solicit consolidated input from board members (staff will compile responses rather than rely on reply-all), and return to the board with a revised cost and exhibit at a future meeting.
The board did not take action on the design at the Oct. 24 meeting; Joseph said the item was for discussion only and that staff will bring a more detailed package later.
