Council accepts $100,000 TSET grant to design Shannon Springs pavilion, but members flag construction funding gap

Chickasha City Council voted to accept a $100,000 Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust (TSET) healthy incentive grant and to authorize staff to work with design firm Freeze & Nickels on plans for a pavilion at Shannon Springs Park.

Andy Conurs, parks and recreation director, told the council the grant was approved May 4 and that the parks board unanimously recommended a new standalone pavilion to host the farmers market and community events. "If council approves, staff will work with Freeze & Nickels to bring forward a design contract," Conurs said.

Senior project manager James Hazard of Freeze & Nickels presented siting options and cost ranges. He said a minimal standalone pavilion sized about 40-by-44 feet with character-matching finishes would be an all-in estimate of roughly $650,000 to $800,000. Larger pavilion options intended to accommodate the seasonal ice rink or a full amphitheater cover were priced from about $1.7 million up to $3 million depending on materials and design choices. Hazard said a premanufactured restroom structure would add roughly $150,000 plus utility connections.

Council members cautioned that construction costs far exceed the $100,000 design grant. "The TE grant will cover engineering and design," one councilmember said, "but 100 grand won't touch those projects" and the council does not have the construction funds in this year's budget. City staff answered that the grant money is already in the city's account and that TSET is generally flexible; staff said they could return the funds if the project could not be completed per TSET timetables.

City staff recommended authorizing the design phase and returning to council with a probable cost (OPCC) after schematic design and market checks with manufacturers. Staff said the minimum structure option would still require approximately $550,000 in local funding in addition to the $100,000 grant, and that the TSET funding requires project completion by early 2027 under the current grant timeline.

Council voted to accept the grant award and allow staff to proceed with design work and follow-up cost estimates; the motion passed on a roll call vote. Staff committed to report back with refined cost estimates, potential funding sources, and any recommended scope changes before any construction contract is executed.

The next procedural step is a design contract expected to come back to council on July 6 for authorization of design fees and an updated cost estimate for construction.