Delray Beach staff recommend $59.39 million GMP for Pompeii Park renovation; competition pool removed for cost savings

Delray Beach officials on May 26 reviewed a revised guaranteed maximum price (GMP) of $59.39 million for the long‑planned renovation of Pompeii Park, but took no formal vote at a joint workshop of the City Commission and the Community Redevelopment Agency.

Director of Public Works Missy Barletto said the city and Core Construction negotiated the price down from an initial contractor proposal of about $65.8 million and a subsequent submission of $63.3 million. "That brought the price down to 59.39 million as their current best price offer in GMP," Barletto told commissioners during the presentation.

The renovated park would add a new recreation facility with large multipurpose community rooms, a pavilion with restrooms, an indoor running track, expanded aquatics and pool support, a family pool and lap pool areas, indoor and outdoor courts, playgrounds, and increased parking. Barletto said value‑engineering, removal of select alternates and bid leveling accounted for roughly $1.27 million in savings; removing the competition pool reduced cost by about $2.4 million. Further savings came from reduced general conditions, a trimmed management fee and recalculated contingencies.

Core Construction's Ted Kava, the contractor's senior vice president, said his team is willing to work with the city on allowances for a replacement concession stand without an added fee; he added that firm subcontractor pricing cannot be finalized until the city completes design plans. "Once we have a design, once I have an understanding, you have my commitment is that we won't mark it up," Kava said.

Longtime resident Cynthia Ridley urged commissioners to move forward with the project in public comment, saying, "We use Pompeii Park. We love Pompeii Park." Commissioners expressed mixed views about removing the competition pool. Mayor Carney said he is wary of using roughly $2 million in taxpayer funds to support a facility primarily intended to address school‑team access: "I don't think it's the city's place to put $2 million worth of our taxpayer dollar to support public schools," he said, noting limitations on competition amenities such as stands and diving platforms.

Several commissioners said they were disappointed to see amenities like a decorative pergola and batting cages removed but emphasized a desire to keep the overall project on track. Staff noted the CRA has roughly $45 million currently budgeted and that funding decisions would require budget amendments and further CRA discussion.

On schedule, city staff said the community center portion is estimated to be complete in May 2028, with exterior elements such as ball fields, pavilions, curbs and sidewalks finishing by January 2029. Staff added that construction will be phased so parts of the park remain operational during work.

Because the meeting was noticed as a workshop, no formal action could be taken. Staff and Core representatives said they would finalize outstanding contract items and return a GMP contract for possible commission action at the June 2 meeting, or June 9 if additional time is needed.

Next steps include finalizing design details for any concession work or allowances, resolving remaining contractual language and presenting the finalized GMP contract for the commission's consideration at the early June meeting.