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Council weighs removing failing Pioneer Park retaining wall, approves park projects and pursues grant-ready designs
Summary
Staff reported alternatives for a failing retaining wall at Pioneer Park — removing the wall and regrading could save about $75,000 but requires removing and replacing 16 trees — while also briefing the council on upcoming pickleball-court work, an NRCS-recommended economist for the reservoir study, a $150,000 grant for Grady Mills Park, and a recommendation to fund a 90% detention-pond design to boost grant competitiveness.
Price public-works and parks staff briefed the council on several parks and infrastructure items, including a potentially costly retaining-wall issue at Pioneer Park and multiple grant and capital projects.
Pioneer Park retaining wall: Staff (S9) said parts of the existing rock retaining wall are failing and not up to code in sections; they presented two main options: replace the retaining wall at an estimated $125,000 or remove the wall and regrade the slope, which could save approximately $75,000 but would require removing and later replacing 16 trees. Staff recommended public outreach before any tree removal so residents understand the safety reasons and replacement plan.
Parks projects and grants: Staff reported the pickleball-court resurfacing project will start Monday and that staff negotiated an incentive structure with the contractor (up to $500 per day incentive for early completion or $500 per day penalty for late completion, capped at 16 days). The council was also briefed that NRCS recommended hiring an economist to support the reservoir project’s economic study; staff requested an additional $25,000 for that work. Separately, staff announced a $150,000 grant from the Division of Outdoor Recreation for Grady Mills Park, with a 50% match requirement that staff said can largely be satisfied through in-kind labor.
Detention-pond grant readiness: Staff asked whether to spend $40,000–$50,000 from the stormwater fund to advance a detention-pond design from 60% to 90% to improve the city’s chances of securing federal grant funding; staff noted a roughly $4,050,000 estimated project cost if fully funded and recommended using the stormwater fund for the design work to make the project shovel-ready.
Representative quote: "If we remove the wall and didn't replace it, we'd save about $75,000," staff said, adding that tree removal and replacement would be part of the plan.
Next steps: Staff will prepare outreach materials, advance design funding decisions for the detention-pond grant discussion, and proceed with the pickleball and reservoir project steps as scheduled.
