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Council prioritizes neighborhood park improvements, rebids Cherry Lake project after higher bids
Summary
Staff reduced the scope of Cherry Lake Park Phase III because construction bids exceeded expectations and plan to rebid using FY2025-26 funds; Vice Mayor Gaines urged more investment in neighborhood parks such as Ronald Sefton Gaffney Park and staff said roughly $200,000 of Cherry Lake improvements are grant-funded.
Parks and Recreation Director Mike Walker presented conceptual plans and a status update for Cherry Lake Park Phase III and Ronald Sefton Gaffney Park. Walker said procurement challenges and higher-than-anticipated construction bids required scope reductions but that core elements — previously purchased playground equipment, stormwater work, sidewalks and related infrastructure — would be preserved and rebid using existing Fiscal Year 2025-26 funding.
Vice Mayor Barbara Gaines supported directing additional resources toward neighborhood parks and called the long-planned playground at Ronald Sefton Gaffney Park an important amenity for families in nearby neighborhoods. Walker said about $200,000 of the Cherry Lake improvements would be funded through a state grant and staff will provide more detail about park impact fees and how much new residential construction contributes to those revenues. Council gave no final approval at the workshop; staff will return with updated scopes, funding breakdowns and a rebid plan.
