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JR Smith Park project out to bid; city faces borrowing authorization of up to $3.5 million
Summary
Sunbury City staff said JR Smith Park is out to bid with a Dec. 12 opening; the council will consider an ordinance authorizing up to $3,500,000 in borrowing, above the engineer’s estimate, and staff said a contractor selection and schedule will determine whether substantial completion hits mid-2026.
Speaker 4 told the Sunbury City Parks Committee that the JR Smith Park project is currently being advertised for bids and that the bid opening is set for Dec. 12 at 10 a.m. at the Municipal Building. "We are advertising the bid opening is on December 12 at 10AM at the Municipal Building," he said.
Council members were reminded that an ordinance on the city council agenda would authorize the city to borrow up to $3,500,000 for the project. Speaker 2 cautioned that the $3.5 million authorization is higher than the engineer’s estimate and said the final borrowing need will depend on the bids that come in. "That's not the amount that's, in the engineer's estimate. That's above the engineer's estimate...but we'll won't really know until the bids come in," Speaker 2 said.
Speaker 4 said staff have received several questions from potential bidders, which he described as an encouraging sign for competition. He also warned that contractor requests to delay starts or long lead times on certain materials could affect the schedule, and that staff will develop a more detailed schedule once a contractor is under contract.
On timing, committee members discussed a target for substantial completion in mid-2026; Speaker 2 referenced July as the projected substantial-completion month and expressed a desire to open the splash pad in the second half of the summer. Staff emphasized that the completion timeline is contingent on contractor scheduling and supply-chain factors.
The committee received the update; the ordinance authorizing borrowing will be considered by the full council as part of its agenda process. No formal vote on the ordinance occurred during this meeting.
