Rochester Hills council approves $15.8 million Nowicki Park construction contract
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Summary
The City of Rochester Hills voted unanimously April 13 to award a $15.8 million construction contract to Frank Rewald & Sons for Nowicki Park, a new community park that will include trails, a dog park, a community room and a playground; city staff said grants and reserves cover the cost without a tax increase.
The Rochester Hills City Council voted unanimously April 13 to award a $15,797,580.70 contract to Frank Rewald & Sons for construction of Nowicki Park, a long-planned community park with trails, a dog park, a community room with year-round restrooms and an accessible loop trail.
Parks Director Elwert told council the project converts roughly 140 acres into a nature-focused park with a central pond and an accessible asphalt loop, crushed-limestone secondary trails, a one-acre playground and a gated dog park. The construction package includes road, water and sewer work and a 10% contingency. "We're asking you tonight to move Nowicki Park forward without any additional general fund money by utilizing this grant and Saver Fund support," Elwert said, noting a recently secured $2 million state grant and $500,000 from the city's saver fund to cover contingency.
Council members pressed staff on scope, tree removal and long-term maintenance. Staff said the property survey listed about 1,900 trees; approximately 600 would be removed (515 are regulated), and the project includes planting about 650 new trees—more plantings than removals. "We're planting 650; our code requires 515," Elwert said, defending the plan's net increase in canopy coverage.
Questions about drainage and wetland protections drew detailed responses from project engineers. Steve Sutton of Nowak & Fraus said state (EGLE) and city-regulated wetlands were surveyed and that the design includes underdrain systems feeding the central pond plus detention so the site would be a net-zero discharge. "Eagle reviewed the site and concurred with the current regulated and non-regulated wetlands," Sutton said.
Council members also asked about cost control and change orders. Staff said the bid-based procurement locks in the majority of scope and that the project team will prepare monthly pay applications and closely manage contractor billing. "We control the pay application preparation, not the contractor," Sutton said, describing the city's oversight role.
The council approved the construction contract and separate professional-services authorizations: a $1,140,180 blanket purchase order to Nowak & Fraus for construction engineering and a $19,140 increase to A/E services (new not-to-exceed $275,645) to cover additional building inspections. The council emphasized monthly reporting and on-site inspection to manage contingency use.
The administration estimated ongoing operations and staffing for the park at roughly $300,000 annually, including a full-time ranger and seasonal support; the council said those costs will be considered in future budget cycles. Elwert said the construction team expects to mobilize in late May with a target to have the building framed before winter and a park appearance beginning in 2027; a more complete park opening is targeted for late summer 2027.
No member voted against the measures. The project will be funded through the parks development fund, DPS budgets for site work, the $2 million state grant and a Saver Fund contribution; staff said no new citywide tax increase is proposed for Nowicki Park.
