Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Playground Project topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Playground project to proceed in phases after two failed bids; residents ask about access and parking
Summary
District staff said two bid solicitations for a playground returned no bidders, prompting direct contractor outreach and a phased plan to complete work before students return; residents asked whether parking plans will reduce play space.
The Bordentown Regional School District Board of Education heard details of a planned playground capital project after the original public solicitation received no bids twice.
A district staff member told the board that, after two unsuccessful solicitations, staff directly contacted contractors and found one willing to review full architectural plans. The district’s approach now is to meet with that contractor and pursue as much of phase 1 as possible before students return, then continue with a more robust phase 2 the following summer.
“Let's meet with the contractor. We've given them the full architectural plans that work for phase 1, and let's see how much of phase 1 we can get done before students arrive,” the staff member said, describing a phased schedule intended to avoid contract conflicts with the school calendar.
Board members raised questions about timeline, parking and whether the playground’s usable area would be reduced by construction. One committee member asked which section will be used for parking and how that would affect the play area; the staff member said the parking area is located to the right of the HVAC system and indicated the design incorporated replacement trees across phases.
A resident during public comment said families use the playground and questioned why its availability had been limited; the staff member responded that there was "no reason under the sun" that the playground could not be used and thanked the commenter for feedback. The transcript does not record a formal motion or vote to authorize a contract during this session.
Why it matters: The procurement difficulties and the decision to phase work affect whether planned improvements will be ready for the school year and how interim access and parking will be managed for families.
Next steps: staff plan to meet with the contractor to scope phase 1 work and to report back on how much can be completed before students return; a formal contract authorization was not recorded in the transcript.
