Parker approves $866,000 contract for Newley Gulch trail connection; construction to start January 2026

Parker — The Parker Town Council approved a construction contract award on Dec. 15 for the Newley Gulch trail, accepting Hammond Infrastructure’s low bid of $866,000 for Dooling Gulch CIP 22-033.

Public works staff summarized that the town acquired 20.25 acres in 2022 and will build a trail connection to tie the Cherry Creek Trail to the East–West Trail. The project was publicly bid on Dec. 3 and attracted 19 bids; the engineer’s estimate was $1.3 million. "Hammond Infrastructure was the low bidder on this at 866,000," the presenter said, noting the contractor already has crews working in town and staff verified the bid.

Council members asked whether the low bid posed a risk of later change orders or defaults. One council member asked whether the low bidder might "come back and say, oh, we did kinda shoot ourselves in the foot;" public works staff and the presenter said they had called and verified that the contractor could complete the work and that the lower price likely reflected mobilization savings. Staff said the likely disposition for the difference between budgeted funds and the bid is to return the savings to the fund balance for related projects.

Construction is anticipated to start in January 2026 and be complete by July 2026. The council moved and seconded approval of the contract and the motion passed as recorded in the meeting minutes.

What happens next: Staff will finalize the contract and coordinate start-of-construction logistics; council noted the project will close a trail gap and improve connections for pedestrians and cyclists.