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Board authorizes advertising for Ithan Elementary demolition and temporary playground; designers estimate ~90 trees removed
Summary
The Radnor board voted 6–0 to advertise bids for early demolition of two houses and an annex at the Ithan site and installation of a temporary playground; designers estimated the early package will cost about $529,300 with soft‑costs and identified tree removals and erosion controls to be addressed in bids.
The Radnor Township School District board voted unanimously March 25 to authorize advertising and bidding for an early demolition and temporary playground package at the Ithan Elementary site, a step administrators and the design team said will shorten the overall project timeline and provide an interim play area for students.
Design team members from Breslin Architecture and SiteLogic described the early package as demolition of two residential structures and the annex building, backfilling foundations, removal of about 90 trees (many in poor condition), regrading and installation of a temporary playground surface (engineered mulch for part of the area and modular interlocking play tiles for a basketball court), plus limited new equipment (a swing set and basketball hoop). The design‑team estimate for construction of the early package was about $529,300, with roughly $100,000 in soft costs (design, permitting, insurance) and an additional $25,000 for extra construction‑management services tied to the split bid approach.
Design team members emphasized staging the tree removal and heavy work during summer months while the site is less used, and said erosion and sediment (E&S) controls will be placed and left in place until areas are stabilized. Board members asked about neighboring properties, stormwater runoff, reuse of existing playground equipment, relocation of salvaged materials and schedule; the team said the playground should be ready for the school year and that some smaller new equipment would be purchased with the intent to relocate it later.
The motion to authorize advertising and bidding passed on a 6–0 voice vote. The design team said they would advertise on Mar. 27, receive bids Apr. 17 and return to the board on Apr. 27 for award. Administrators said award and notices to proceed would follow board action and that the demolition and temporary playground work would be completed over the summer before school begins.
