Parks Board backs Oak Park stage concept and favors composite decking, urges design cohesion

Ryan (staff) presented three bids for a permanent 10‑by‑20‑foot stage at Oak Park, with low estimates near $11,000 and a high near $26,000; the average came in under $15,000. Bids included a concrete option and a composite (Trex or synthetic wood) option. Ryan noted the composite option keeps its aesthetic longer and that concrete may require resealing every 3–5 years.

Board members asked about stage height (1 foot proposed, consistent with existing portable stages), ADA access (ramps), power availability, nearby vendor stalls and how a permanent stage would interact with planned nearby development. The board discussed whether tourism funding could pay for the stage (staff said tourism cannot fund construction), rental and revenue potential from vendor stalls (fee set at $25 for a four‑hour slot to start), and the need to match the stage’s materials and color to the existing limestone restroom and park aesthetic.

Several members favored composite decking and recommended that bids explicitly include exterior beams or connection points that would allow a future canopy to be installed without retrofitting the stage (staff noted adding a canopy could roughly double the project cost). Anthony Daringer motioned to send the project with these caveats to council and the board seconded the motion; the board voted unanimously to forward the item with the stated design preferences.

Next steps: staff will prepare the recommended bid package emphasizing Trex composite decking, exterior beam provisions for a future canopy, aesthetic matching to the restroom facade, and return to the Parks Board with final bid documents to forward to council.