Halifax County issues RFP for Edmonds Park planning; committee sets review steps and short‑term repairs funded

Halifax County has issued a Request for Proposals for architectural and engineering services to prepare planning documents for Edmonds Park, county staff told the Recreation Advisory Committee on June 11.

County Administrator Verron “Ron” Brade told the committee the Board of Supervisors approved funding for an Edmonds Park planning project and that the Recreation Advisory Committee will evaluate consultant proposals and make a recommendation to the Board.

Planning/Zoning Administrator Detrick Easley described a long‑term vision for Edmonds Park as a regional recreation destination capable of hosting tournaments and events. Early concepts discussed include relocating the fairgrounds, adding a grandstand or event venue, developing baseball and softball fields designed for tournaments, and creating family recreation amenities such as a swimming pool and splash pad. Easley said prior community engagement identified athletics, tournament facilities, swimming, and family recreation as priorities.

Nancy Spencer, Strategic Programs Coordinator, reviewed procurement documents, planning‑study deliverables, draft reports and written answers provided to prospective consultants, and confirmed proposals were due June 15, 2026, at 4:00 p.m.; she said two proposals had been received as of the meeting.

Easley and Brade said the selected consultant will evaluate the site against available infrastructure and funding and produce a plan that reflects community priorities. Brade emphasized accessibility, noting that the current park is not fully compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act and that future improvements should remove barriers to use.

County staff reported that the Board allocated approximately $75,000 for short‑term upgrades and maintenance, including playground repairs, pathway improvements, vegetation management and removal of unsafe structures. Brade said unsafe structures had already been removed, and that Bill Short had cut the ladder off a nearby silo to reduce a safety risk. The county will formally dedicate the disc golf course in honor of Short and has ordered new signage.

Mathew Candland, Town Manager for South Boston, urged the committee to evaluate firms on relevant experience, project‑management capability and creativity, to check references, and to require that firms include the individuals who will actually manage the project in any interviews or presentations rather than relying solely on senior executives or marketing personnel.

Brade also instructed committee members to treat proposals and interview materials as confidential and to safeguard procurement materials during the evaluation. Committee members reviewed sample scoring sheets and discussed a two‑step process: an initial written proposal review followed by interviews with the most qualified firms. Candland and Carl Epsy, serving as ex officio members, emphasized the importance of reference checks regarding prior clients, schedule adherence and overall performance.

The committee discussed timelines for review and interviews; Brade said the county intends a deliberate selection process and that community engagement, design development, permitting and infrastructure planning would occur before any construction.

The committee's next procedural step is to review proposals received after the June 15 deadline, conduct interviews with the top firms, perform reference checks, and recommend a consultant to the Board of Supervisors.