Concord parks bond update: $1.7M available, several projects under construction and grant applications on consent agenda

Sheila, Concord’s parks and recreation director, told the City Council on Jan. 8 that the bond program’s available fund balance increased to a little over $1.7 million and provided a status update on capital projects.

Sheila said two projects are complete (McGinnis Aquatic Center and Dorton Park) and three are under active construction: Marvin Caldwell Park (covered basketball courts and splash pad plumbing in progress), JE Jim Ramsore Park (main lawn sewer completed and 52,000 cubic yards of fill delivered), and Academy Gibson Athletic Fields (sub-base and drainage work for the turf field). Several existing buildings at McAllister, Webb and Gibson remain under renovation, and a new storage building footer is underway.

Sheila also listed five projects in design, including the Academy Gibson Skatepark/Pump Track/Sculpture Garden and a Poplar Tent Trailhead Park design that is awaiting Duke Energy approval for a parking-lot grading plan. The Wilson Street Park design is proceeding after a tree inventory identified removals, and Hartsell Park is awaiting county certificate of occupancy for a prefab restroom building replaced after a fire.

Sheila said there are two grant applications on the council’s consent agenda tied to the bond program: the PARDEF (Park and Recreation Trust Fund) grant and the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) grant. She reported timeline adjustments that moved five projects out by approximately five to seven months and accelerated one project by roughly two months to align with design and bidding schedules.

Sheila closed by offering to answer questions; council had none at the meeting.

Next steps: staff will continue permitting and bid-document preparation, with the Dave Phillips Park project targeted to go out to bid by February.